A restaurant worker whose blackface costume sparked a protest in St. Augustine says she will not apologize.
The woman says she painted her face black as part of an 'Aunt Jemima' costume she wore to The Bunnery Bakery & Cafe on Halloween.
This is the costume that sparked protest in St. Augustine. I'm told this is a worker at The Bunnery Bakery & Cafe on St. George Street pic.twitter.com/2RjLsagMgT
— Brittney Donovan (@brittneyANjax) October 31, 2017
Students at Flagler College took offense to the costume and organized a protest outside the restaurant.
An owner of the cafe on St. George Street spoke to a crowd outside the restaurant.
She said the worker washed the makeup off her face after a confrontation with Flagler students at the bakery.
She said the employee did not mean to offend anyone.
Owner of The Bunnery says her employee washed off her face after there was the confrontation between her and Flagler students.
— Deanna Bettineschi (@DeannaWAVY) October 31, 2017
The woman accused of wearing the costume sent Action News Jax a statement:
"It was a genuine costume, I thought it was a brilliant idea. Color is not something that exists in my life. I come from a very colorful family and I love all the same. I will not apologize for my costume, there was nothing wrong with my actions in the choice of my costume. I don't understand how this turned into a racial thing. Black face is not something I expected with trying to just dress up for my job on Halloween. Instead of protesting something that is not affecting people directly, why don't we worry about the real issues and not ones that don't matter."
The group of students gathered outside the restaurant in protest holding signs and chanting, "Blackface is not OK."
Students protesting in St. Augustine after a restaurant worker wore black face to work for Halloween @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/T3teqOx3UF
— Brittney Donovan (@brittneyANjax) October 31, 2017
One woman's sign said, "If you aren't angry, you aren't paying attention."
Woman’s sign says “if you aren’t angry, you aren’t paying attention” in response to black face costume in St. Augustine @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/xCRVa0MqzW
— Brittney Donovan (@brittneyANjax) October 31, 2017
Several people posted about the blackface costume on social media.
@ActionNewsJax- currently in the Bunnery on St. George Street and a woman has used black face as her Halloween costume. #canwegetacameracrew
— courtney olson (@06Courtney) October 31, 2017
PLEASE COME OUTSIDE THE BUNNERY WE ARE NOT LETTING THIS HAPPEN AGAIN WE’RE SITTIN OUT
— Hasani (@hasaniisaloser) October 31, 2017
They’ve made her wipe it off but we’re still out here!!!!Please come to the bunnery if you can!!!!!!
— Hasani (@hasaniisaloser) October 31, 2017
This is absolutely unacceptable. If you're free right now, please head down to the Bunnery on St. George where many students are protesting! https://t.co/UmZgEi9pmJ
— Caitlin Croley (@caitlincroles) October 31, 2017
An employee at the Bunnery in St. Augustine dressed in blackface today. Blackface is unacceptable in any way, shape, or form. Shame on you.
— mackenzie (@Kenz_Official) October 31, 2017
Follow @ActionNewsJax on Twitter for the latest information.
Flagler students protesting The Bunnery employee wearing blackface as a costume in St Augustine pic.twitter.com/EudWcxuQFW
— Deanna Bettineschi (@DeannaWAVY) October 31, 2017
Statement from woman who dressed in blackface at St. Augustine restaurant. She says she won’t apologize for ‘Aunt Jemima’ Halloween costume pic.twitter.com/KaE30VWPNO
— Brittney Donovan (@brittneyANjax) October 31, 2017
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