FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ERASE Racism Calls on Long Island’s Elected Officials to Denounce Racially Defaced School Board Election Flyer

Syosset, NY – May 14, 2021 – Elaine Gross, President of ERASE Racism, called today on Long Island's elected officials and the candidates in the May 18 school board elections to denounce publicly the racial slur that was delivered to the mailbox of South Country Central School District Board Member Cameron Trent, who is running for re-election and serves as Vice President of the Board. The three-term African American member of the Board of Education received a defaced copy of his re-election flyer with his picture blacked out and the slur "No N-----s Run" written across it. A photo of the defaced flyer can be found on Trent's Facebook page here. Further reporting on the incident, which has been referred to the police, is available here.

"It is outrageous that an African American elected official on Long Island would be subjected to such disgusting treatment," said Elaine Gross. "I call on every elected official on Long Island and every candidate in Tuesday's school board elections to denounce publicly this disgraceful behavior. We cannot afford to have our elected officials and candidates look the other way. It is long past time for the culture of Long Island to shift to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion."

Click here to download a PDF copy of the Press Release