SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD ACCUSED OF RACISM FOR CALLING COLLEGUE "KING KONG" (1070 hits)
LONDON--Awarding-winning crossing guard, Jon Seymour, was sent home by Camden Council after he likened one of its black staff to the giant movie ape during a row.
Seymour, who is African American and a native of Trinidad, has worked at Carlton Primary School, in Kentish Town, north London for 20 years, use the term at Camden Town Hall.
"I wanted to say something to him because he was being rude to me. I said, 'You are angry like King Kong.' It wasn't racist," he explained.
"How can a black man be racist to another black man? It doesn't make sense."
Terri Kinsey, 23, a parent and former pupil at Carlton Primary School, praised Mr Seymour, who picked up a council award for his work at the school in 2004.
She said: "He's really good with the children and he's really nice to the parents. I loved him when he was there."
Mr Seymour is suspended on full pay and awaiting a decision from the council about his future.
A council spokesman said: "These matters are confidential and we are not in a position to share any further information."
In October, England Football manager Roy Hodgson was forced to apologise after telling a joke about a monkey at half time when his team played Poland at Wembley.
Despite the apology, Hodgson insisted the joke was innocent and was widely defended by players and pundits.
