Racist letter troubling

Dear Editor:

Saturday’s letter about the racist bully being catered to by the 42nd Street Bagel manager is disturbing in several ways. If it’s true, we all should boycott the café until there’s a public apology and a management change.

But is it true? The letter describes a caricature of the bigots forced back into the slime 45 years ago. Did the COURIER corroborate the story with others—the waitress and the letter writer’s friend, for instance? Did the paper invite the café manager to react and comment? Fairness suggests both things should happen. And why the withheld name? Publishing the letter anonymously changes it from an indignant statement by a concerned citizen into something akin to a drive-by shooting. I hope the COURIER will follow up on this troubling story.

Harrison Stephens
Claremont

(Editor’s note:  The COURIER is following up on this issue. The name was withheld per the request of the letter’s author because the author feared retribution.)