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Penn State York responds to viral video depicting racist rant by former board member

The video, posted on X (formerly Twitter), alleges a man reportedly associated with the university repeatedly yelled racial slurs and said, "I am a racist."

YORK COUNTY, Pa. — Officials with Penn State York are speaking out after a video was posted online seemingly showing a racist rant by a board member. 

The video, posted on X (formerly Twitter), alleges Jonathan Spanos, who was an advisory board member with Penn State York, repeatedly yelled racial slurs and said, "I am a racist," during a road rage incident. 

User "YorkpaRacist," who posted the video, claimed on social media that Spanos is also a York County restaurant owner.

The clip currently has over 17,000 views on X.

According to a post by Penn State York, Spanos is no longer a member of the Penn State York Advisory Board.

The university released the following statement condemning the video:

"This hateful language has no place in our community and is not reflective of the University’s values or our desire to foster an inclusive environment. The appropriate offices at Penn State have been notified and we are looking into this matter with urgency."

NAACP York County Branch President Jamiel Alexander also released a statement following the video's posting. It reads, in part: 

"In response to this incident, the NAACP calls for the following actions:

Immediate Resignation: The individual in question should resign from all leadership positions, including the Penn State York Advisory Council and any business associations, to uphold the integrity of these institutions.

Institutional Review: Penn State York should conduct a thorough review of its advisory council members to ensure they embody the university's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Community Engagement: Penn State York partners with certified, qualified DEI partners to facilitate ongoing open forums and discussions within the York community to address issues of racism and promote understanding and unity.

The NAACP remains steadfast in its mission to eliminate racial hatred and discrimination. We urge all community leaders and institutions to take decisive action against such behavior and to foster environments where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect."

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