<p>A Vineyard Transit Authority bus driver has been fired after he refused to pick up a passenger who is black, the VTA said.</p>
A Vineyard Transit Authority bus driver has been fired after he refused to pick up a passenger who is black, the regional bus service said Thursday.
“We were all taken aback by that type of action, that any person would speak that way to anybody in the public,” VTA administrator Angela Grant told the Gazette Thursday. “The appropriate action was taken in a very timely fashion and we look forward to putting the issue behind us.”
The VTA is not identifying the driver. But Kevin Brooks, 35, a hairdresser and camera man/editor who commutes to the Vineyard from New Bedford, told the Gazette Thursday that he was the would-be passenger.
According to a press release from the VTA, the incident took place Wednesday, July 11 at about 4:25 p.m., when a bus on route number 13 was traveling from Edgartown to Oak Bluffs.
Mr. Brooks said he was waiting for the bus at his usual stop on Beach Road just past the Triangle. On Wednesday the bus drove by him and the driver looked at him and kept driving, he said.
According to the VTA the bus was full and the driver did not change the destination sign to say Bus At Capacity.
The VTA said onboard audio/video footage reviewed by the authority showed that the driver responded by saying the bus was full. When the person challenged the response, the VTA said, the driver responded: “Well, it’s because you are black.”
Mr. Brooks described a similar account of what transpired. He said he hopped in an Uber and followed the bus to Oak Bluffs, waiting for the bus to clear before he asked the driver why he hadn’t stopped. “I said what was the reason you didn’t stop for me in Edgartown,’” Mr. Brooks said. “He said ‘Because you’re black.’” Mr. Brooks said the bus driver added that the bus was crowded.
The driver involved in the incident has been fired effective immediately, the VTA said.
The company Transit Connection Inc. is under contract to provide service for the VTA and manages bus drivers. Ms. Grant said the driver involved in the incident was fired by that company after an investigation.
Ms. Grant said she had spoken with Mr. Brooks.
“It was a bit of a shock,” Mr. Brooks said Thursday, speaking to the Gazette by phone from the ferry. He said he has commuted to the Vineyard year-round for three years to work at Mac’s Barber Shop and to make house calls and work at weddings. He was trying to get to the ferry home Wednesday.
“I’ve never had an issue,” Mr. Brooks said. “I don’t even live here, I still feel like part of the Vineyard. I go to the same bus stop every day.”
He said the staff at VTA were responsive and called him back immediately. He said has also been in touch with a civil rights lawyer and the state commission against discrimination.
Comments
Hats off to the VTA for
Timothy M. Moriarty ChilmarkHats off to the VTA for performing an earnest investigation and taking appropriate action.
Wow - my mind is blown - even
RT WTWow - my mind is blown - even here on the Vineyard. Perfect response from the VTA.
There are a lot of ppl here
NA West TisburyThere are a lot of ppl here that claim to be liberal and progressive but are very racist. As an Asian American woman living on MV, I’ve experienced racism in so many work places.
So so sad! Mr. Kevin Brooks I
William ExPBA NY-ChilmarkSo so sad! Mr. Kevin Brooks I am sorry you were subject to such repugnant treatment! Please accept my apology for that drivers behavior!
Why would you apologize for
John Aldeborgh EdgartownWhy would you apologize for the bus drivers behavior? Do you have some authority or responsibilitity for the driver, and therefore his actions? His behavior was unacceptable and he was punished for his actions, that is appropriate. I don’t understand your response as I assume you had no involvement, of any kind, in the incident. The world is full of people behaving poorly, do you apologize for them as well? Again, I don’t understand. Empathy I understand, that’s a valid emotion but apologizing for the behavior of a complete stranger isn’t logical and had no meaning.
Give him a break. Even if it
Allison EdgartownGive him a break. Even if it doesn't make any sense, he was just trying to say someone nice and doesn't deserved to be trolled for it. I know I'm not going to change the way you think if you're the type to troll people on the Gazette website, but don't you think it's a little strange that your post is the only one that is focusing such negative energy at another commenter you probably don't know? If you can't say something nice...
Anyway, John, I hope you're enjoying this gorgeous weather!
Because I want to!
William ExPBA NYC, ChilmarkBecause I want to!
Smedly. Smedly. "Sorry" is
Donna Russell RochesterSmedly. Smedly. "Sorry" is correctly used in so many ways other than to repent for personal misdeeds. To express feelings of empathy, sympathy, to build community relations, or condemn of the misdeeds of others are just a few. There is much happening in the world today for which this country's people will be saying "sorry" for many years to come. Seeing the abhorrent behavior of another cause individual or global harm calls for expressions of "sorry." And I cherish people of sensitivity who are willing to say it, mean it, and take action.
Empathy and caring does not
Martha MageeEmpathy and caring does not come from logic. It comes from a loving heart.
There is only one of us here.
ALL ONE.
Ugly minds and ugly attitudes
Jackson Western MAUgly minds and ugly attitudes are being less and less filtered. What before was a thought, is now coming out as words and sometimes as actions. Such a slippery slope. 50 steps forward and 150 backwards (sigh)!
I wonder why a few people are
Martin hanley Tisbury.I wonder why a few people are all of a sudden emboldened to be overt racist? Hmm.
No wonder at all, come right
Susan NTisNo wonder at all, come right out and say it. Tip toeing around is unacceptable, the tone of racism that 45 and the GOP accept has led to more open blatant racism everywhere and my beautiful multi cultural MV is not immune.
All we can do is call it out when we see it and VOTE in November !!
Quite a reach blaming Trump
Jim CambridgeQuite a reach blaming Trump for something that happened on a bus in oh so toney Martha's Vineyard. BTW- How do you like his SCOTUS picks so far?
Not even this place is exempt
Chip Coblyn OBNot even this place is exempt from the noxious illness spreading across America. Luckily this remains a ‘highly isolated incident’, but it should serve as a reminder of how precious the Vineyard is, and how vigilant we must remain.
Kudos to the VTA for taking
Joe OBKudos to the VTA for taking immediate and firm action to terminate the driver. Even if it was said in jest and/or sarcasm, it is inexcusable.
What I don’t understand is the desire to sue. An individual made an inexcusable comment and was promptly terminated. He himself said in the article that he has never experienced this before and the VTA contacted him immediately.
"Said in jest???" Please do
Rosie Chilmark"Said in jest???" Please do not make ANY excuses for this inexcusable behavior. Racist comments are never funny and anyone who thinks they are is a racist.
I don't blame him for
KerryI don't blame him for retaining a lawyer. Litigation is sometimes how these behavior will stopped. when the company and the municipal are forces to start shelling out money to right the wrong is how some learn what's unacceptable and not tolerated.
A very sad state of affairs.
Eileen Melrose, MAA very sad state of affairs. Appologies to Kevin Brooks that such a thing could happen on Martha’s Vineyard, especially on the way to Oak Bluffs, a town that has been open to all for so long. My husband needs a hair cut - he’ll get it at Mac’s.
Is it really necessary to
Anne EdgartownIs it really necessary to contact a civil rights lawyer and a discriminatory commission? Unless there is more to the story, it appears the transit company acted appropriately and in a timely fashion in dealing with this ignorant person. Perhaps Mr. Brooks is going after the individual in question. That may only deepen that persons prejudices, but maybe he/she would think twice before doing something so stupid again.
Because he did incur damages.
Shaua ConnecticutBecause he did incur damages. I don't care if it's a piddly amount of the Uber fare. He did suffer financial damages he otherwise wouldn't have incurred had the racist encounter not taken place.
Not a lawyer, nor do I claim to have any specific knowledge of the law. But I would think someone in the field who's reading this would agree.
The MCAD was established
Chip Coblyn OBThe MCAD was established decades ago (my father was involved at its creation, so I remember it vividly) in order to give those facing discrimination based largely on race, a voice, and a way to fight back through legal means. If Mr. Brooks allows this incident to go without HIS input, on his terms—regardless of the undoubtedly praiseworthy firing on the part of the VTA—then he may well perceive that he is not standing up for himself. At least that's how I would feel, even if the lawsuit was for only a dollar.
Thanks to the likes of the
Kimberly Windsor, CTThanks to the likes of the Trump Administration, overt acts of racism are sharply on the rise. But let’s be honest, shall we? Black people being victimized by racist behavior isn’t new at all. It’s just being recorded. For many, including myself, MV is heaven on earth. So the incident involving Mr. Brooks does have a chilling effect. I applaud the VTA for taking immediate action. But again, let’s be honest, the VTA also sees this as an economic issue...as does MV itself. And any racist/discriminatory behavior is a direct threat to tourism and commerce in general. Mr. Brooks is wise to consult legal counsel. He was a clear victim of discrimination, an illegal act. And since the VTA is a part of the Commonwealth of MA, this matter is a state issue. Good job VTA. I pray MV sees this as a warning and is prepared to respond to racist behavior accordingly. Our eyes are on you.
A year ago we were hearing
WashAbhorred EdgartownA year ago we were hearing how the problem at that OB restaurant wasn't representative of the Island. Now it's a VTA driver. Look at the hatred by many of our Brazillian born natives. There's a lot of work to be done on MV to reduce racism.
My apologies - that should
WashAbhorred EdgartownMy apologies - that should read...Look at the hatred directed at many of our Brazillian born residents.
Hey, MV Gazette - how about an edit function?
That VTA driver is a
Steve Martha's VineyardThat VTA driver is a monumental jerk and deserves to be fired. Speaking of monumental jerks....who blames Republicans for this? Take a look in the mirror and and see how inclusive you are? Do you accept other viewpoints or do you spew political hate. Racism is universally despised. Own some of the blame for creating such a toxic environment.
I live here because I thought
KGH EdgartownI live here because I thought MV was different than the rest of America these days. They should deport this guy from the island. MV is no place for racism and intolerance. Good job to the administrators at the VTA for taking quick action!
Keep the deeper conversation
Margot Lane Menemsha, MAKeep the deeper conversation going. If you see this happen on your bus ride, speak up as one, in all languages. Reach out. Hate comes from fear; love comes from compassion.
Steve is spewing a good bit
Elizabeth EdgartownSteve is spewing a good bit of hatred toward Republicans, a minority on the Island, and against people by the millions who he has never met - bias? No comments being printed here are by anyone who was on the bus. Such a rush to judgment and blame and hate speech towards half the country!!! Yikes.
The ignored economic
George Stein EdgartownThe ignored economic discrimination across America is more troubling than a human denied a bus ride. Alleges does not want to see said person lose livelihood but takes Uber ride to confront what may be disabled person and files complaint so said person does not lose job ? OK. St least I use my actual name on comments. Not to confuse anyone who my remarks are from.
Rosa Parks is turning over in
Denise Western MaRosa Parks is turning over in her grave. It saddens me to learn that blatant racist attitudes exist in our country and we our moving backwards.
My son is working on the Vineyard this summer for the first time. My son's roommate introduced him to Kevin Brooks. He has been cutting his hair since he moved to the island. My son is fussy about his hair cuts. In addition to giving my son an excellent hair cut, Kevin trims his eyebrows and beard for no additional charge. He is more than a barber. He enjoys talking to Kevin about varied subjects, including information about Martha's Vineyard. Kevin's kindness went a long way for a kid that was initially insecure about his move to an unfamiliar island.
"All men are created equal, and the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened."
John F. Kennedy
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