PORTLAND, Ore. — A local television station in Portland, Oregon, issued an apology on Friday after a racist image was displayed during a program that is supposed to promote positive stories.
During KGW-TV’s “The Good Stuff” program on Thursday evening, which includes a “Throwback Thursday” segment with photos submitted by its viewers.
“The image, seemingly from the 1950s, depicted children throwing balls towards a sign prominently displaying (a racial slur),” the station said in a statement on Friday. “We understand the profound hurt this image inflicted upon our viewers and staff, particularly members of our Black community. To those who were exposed to the image and were hurt by it, we offer our sincerest apologies.”
In a written statement, leaders of the Portland chapter of the NAACP said they were offended by the images shown on KGW-TV on Friday.
“We are appalled by the slide shared by KGW news yesterday evening that displayed an explicitly racist image,” said James Posey and Pastor J.W. Matt Hennessee, of the Portland chapter of the NAACP. “We are looking to KGW leadership to immediately provide clarity on how and why this happened.”
More on the racist image and fallout.
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