News Americas, MIAMI, FL, Fri. Nov. 3, 2017: A credit union in the northwestern state of Idaho says four white female employees who blackened their faces and donned Jamaican gear to depict the first Jamaican national bobsled team meant no disrespect.
P1FCU, which operates 14 full-service branches in Idaho and Washington, with mortgage and business service centers in Lewiston and Post Falls, was forced to issue a statement after it was slammed on social media.
The photo was posted by the four employees who dressed up for Halloween as the Jamaican national bobsled team in the 1988 Olympics and blackened their faces. It showed four women in black facepaint with what appear to be afro or braid wigs, yellow stocking caps and a cardboard “bobsled” labeled “Jamaica” — a nod to the 1988 Olympic team and the popular ‘90s movie “Cool Runnings.
In its response, the bank said “The picture was meant to be a representation of the first Jamaican national bobsled team who gained fame in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games and whose heroics were made famous in the 1993 movie ‘Cool Runnings’. The 4 female employees are shocked and saddened by the results of their depiction of this famous group of Jamaican athletes and meant no harm or disrespect to anyone.”
The company also apologized and added that the employees involved have been reprimanded.
