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The family of the Black girls who were seemingly ignored by a Sesame Place character says they're "tired of talking" and strongly considering pursuing legal action after the amusement park's CEO failed to follow through with his commitment to meet with them.
Per the Orlando Sentinel, the Brown family and their lawyer B’Ivory LaMarr believed they were meeting with Marc Swanson, the CEO of Orlando-based SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, for a mediation session last month, but were instead greeted by other members of the leadership team.
The family and their attorney were told Swanson was never expected to attend the meeting after the CEO allegedly said he was “willing to fly anywhere" to meet them, according to reports.
“After nearly 2 months of engagement, it has become evident and we believe that the leadership at SeaWorld Entertainment does not respect the political power of African-American civil rights leaders and their outreach within the community,” LaMarr said. “We further believe that they do not respect the African-American dollars that help make SeaWorld and Sesame Place profitable.”
At the meeting, the Brown family expressed their concerns to attorneys and representatives rather than Swanson and were given sandwiches and cookies on their way out, per the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Inquirer reports that Swanson and company board members did meet with Rev. Jesse L. Jackson and LaMarr earlier in August, but the Brown family was barred from meeting and spent hours waiting in the lobby.
“While he and his corporate executives sat in comfort in the skyline suite, the Brown family stood in the lobby for hours awaiting word as to whether or not they would be heard,” LaMarr said, per the Inquirer.
The family hasn't filed a lawsuit against the park, but LaMarr said they are calling on community leaders to "stand in solidarity" as they "proceed with pursuing each and every legal option available."
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