PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - Standing at Freedom Corner in the Hill District, Pennsylvania NAACP President Kenneth Huston said, "I was absolutely shocked," when he heard racist statements that have been attributed to Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Judge Mark Tranquilli.
"I never thought in the year 2020, in the 21st century, that we would hear something like that."
Tranquilli has been suspended from hearing cases after he was accused of calling a black, female juror "Aunt Jemima" in a closed door meeting with lawyers. Neither Tranquilli nor the lawyers in the meeting have commented. But one of the attorneys, Joe Otte, filed a written complaint to the state Judicial Conduct Board. Tranquilli allegedly made other racial statements in the meeting.
Backed by local NAACP chapter officials and church leaders Huston read from his statement. "The state conference of the Pennsylvania NAACP will not stand idly by as this systemic racism permeates throughout the system of the criminal courthouse of Allegheny County."
Huston said the African American community will not be satisfied until Tranquilli is removed from the bench. And he called on the black community to use the power they have. "We are challenging our black brothers and sister to get out and vote. Voting is the weapon in our arsenal that allows us to eradicate these kind of individials," said Huston.
The Allegheny County Bar Association has also demanded a complete investigation by the Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania.
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