A Pennsylvania college trustee who made headlines for a road rage outburst filled with racial slurs has left his post at the school as video of the outburst went viral.
Jonathan Spanos, a local restaurant owner, resigned from his position on the Penn State York Advisory Board earlier this week after he was recorded yelling several slurs in a 40-second video. Posted on X.
Spanos was filmed confronting an unidentified man and woman in the middle of the street and spewing vile comments at them.
“Keep filming,” Spanos told the woman behind the camera, who confronted her by repeatedly shouting slurs at her.
“I'm a racist,” Spanos said, and the man he was arguing with admitted, “John Spanos is a racist.”
The former advisory board member claimed his opponents were “pointing fingers” at him and that they were wrong.
Penn State York acknowledged Spanos' resignation Tuesday in a series of responses to X's original video.
“This hateful language has no place in our community and does not reflect the university's values or our desire to foster an inclusive environment,” the school said in a statement. X official account I wrote. “The appropriate offices at Penn State have been notified and we are urgently investigating this matter.
“Jonathan Spanos is no longer a member of the Penn State York Advisory Board,” it said in a subsequent message.
The original video, posted to a dedicated X account, has been viewed more than 60,000 times and prompted local civil rights groups to condemn the abuse.
The York County chapter of the NAACP has called on Spanos to take immediate action to resign from his board seat and from his ownership of the Paddock on Market seafood restaurant in York, Pennsylvania.
President Jamie Alexander: “The York County Chapter of the NAACP is deeply concerned by the recent incident involving Jonathan Spanos.'' said Monday. “Such actions are malicious and stand in stark contrast to the values of equality and respect that our community strives to uphold.”
Mr. Spanos held a press conference on Wednesday and apologized for the outburst.
“My name is Jonathan Spanos, and I am the person who was recorded using racist language in the recently released video,” he said. According to a video from Fox 43.
“I am humiliated and embarrassed by my actions and the community, state, government and people I have served for over 25 years that deserve more recognition from me.”
The restaurant owner said he was approached by a group of pastors and other leaders who encouraged him to confess his sins and ask for forgiveness.
In his apology, Spanos said the outburst stemmed from a “violent family conflict” and asked for forgiveness.
“As the video was distributed widely, we hope that this confession and plea for forgiveness will also reach far and wide,” he said.
Spanos was joined during the press conference by members of the NAACP, the Black Ministers Association, and the Coalition Against Racism.
NAACP York County President-Elect Dr. Sherry Washington said, “Just because everything is going wrong, our presence at this conference in no way means that all is well.” .
“The Coalition Against Racism recognizes that Mr. Spanos' apology and accountability for these actions is an important first step in a long journey toward healing, equity, inclusion, and reconciliation for this community. “There is,” said Dr. Larry Walser.
