In April, Lanesha Walker experienced the worst nightmare of all parents. When daughter Jaslyn Adams was sitting in the car of a McDonald’s drive-thru in Chicago, she was shot and killed.
The murder of Adams came just days after 12-year-old Adam Toledo was shot and killed by Chicago police just a stone’s throw away.
In an SMS exchange between Mayor Lori Lightfoot and CEO of McDonald’s Chris Kempczinski, it now appears that Kempczinski blames the parents after the two murders.
“In both cases, the parents have failed those children,” Kempczinski is said to have written to the mayor.
Three-year-old found killed in containers
Accused of racism
The comment to the director provoked strong reactions and several people accused him of racism and so-called “victim blaming”.
In the wake of the sensational comment, major protests have broken out outside the head office of the fast food chain. According to ABC News, most of the participants were children. The group “Fight for 15”, a group that works for fast food workers’ rights, has directed strong criticism against Kempczinski.
“As the leader of the world’s largest fast food company, Mr. Kempczinski has a responsibility to do much better for black and brown societies than to add racist stereotypes,” the group wrote on Twitter.
– Naughty
In a letter that ABC News has been given access to, the director comments on his previous statement.
– When I wrote this, I saw through the lens as a parent and reacted too quickly. But I have not been in the shoes of the parents of Adam or Jaslyn, or any of the others who live in a very different reality, says Kempczinski.
– Not taking the time to see this from their side was wrong and lacked the empathy and compassion I feel for these families. This is a lesson I want to take with me further.
RESPONDS: Kempczinski’s comment has provoked strong reactions. Photo: Jean-Marc Giboux / AP
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– How dare you?
Lanesha Walker has previously chosen not to speak to the media about the murder of her daughter, but Kempczinski’s comment made her mother look red.
– I’m a grieving parent. I have mourned for a long time, and from your place of power you insult me. How dare you judge me? How dare you say that I have failed my child, Walker says to local media.
– I have not spoken before, because this is not just another child killed in Chicago. This is my child, my daughter who lived with me. You come from a privileged place. You know nothing. You can not comment on me.
According to police, the murder of Jaslyn Adams was gang-related. The nine-year-old was in the car with her father, who is said to belong to the gang environment in Chicago, when she was shot and killed.
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