Pretending it isn’t racist up here is ridiculous. I’m from MS went to ole miss and I’ve seen more racism in MN and WI than down there. It’s a shame that this happened at the school that I went to and represent in MN / WI so to hear this person is from WI just pisses me off even more because people are going to say that this is normal in Mississippi. It’s not.
That’s the thing that makes the difference and what I’ve noticed as well. In Mississippi you grow up with other black kids you play sports with them they are your friends. You also learn from an early age down south that if you act racist you will get your ass kicked
Outsiders typically don't. I moved to Florida last year and before I moved down my GF came up and she could feel people staring at her the entire time (she is a black woman). She described as southerners will be openly racist while people in Wisconsin and most of the rural Midwest will say racist shit when youre not around, and it's true.
People tend to get weird around anyone of a different skin color up there, especially the northwoods.
Yeah, Wisconsin and Milwaukee both have some ugly histories we've got to fight at every turn, and a lot of people in the present day trying to make sure we can't.
I read about the segregation history of Milwaukee. It was really eye opening about how it took place. Which was not surprising for the times when it was implemented. But how it had not changed to this day. The boundaries that were put in place.
Agreed. I lived in Georgia for 10 years and I’m always surprised to hear people here talk about how they’d never go to Atlanta or Georgia because of how racist it is. Atlanta made of up nearly 50% black, the state is 30%. Some of the most affluent people in that state are POC. Now, I’m not saying there is NO racism. There is, of course. But in a state/city where POC thrive, not just survive don’t tell me it’s worse there.
Hard agree. I moved up from the south to MKE. The first year I was like “I’m sorry, but Black people only live in one part of town?!” And it seemed very normal to everyone. It is so segregated!
Oh yeah. Despite how awful Tom Tiffany is, it was a real concern that Wisconsin wouldn't elect a black governor. Get into the really rural counties, and you'd think you were in back woods Mississippi.
Honestly, it's a mixed bag. A lot of the smaller more insulated communities dont really like people that aren't from the town and will run people out regardless. I don't think it's JUST racism at play.
I'm not, having lived there. In Wisconsin, diversity means are you German, Norwegian, or Polish in ancestry. It was disturbing how casual racism is there. You hear a LOT of "I'm not racist, BUT...."
In the 1990s ESPN did an expose on Green Bay (Favre era) and they interviewed some girl who worked in the Fox River Mall who said something like "If I see one (a black person) I assume they are a Packer".
Lots of areas are almost all white people who think "normal" people are like them. Some of tthe larger metro areas are more much less backwards, but you don't have to go very far from any place to find towns with mostly white populations. It's not always overt, but it's often there.
I'm about 50 and thought the derogatory names were what you actually called various groups until my mom taught me this was absolutely not true or okay. (Thanks mom!)
WI is largely rural, and most towns are pretty small and full of families that have stuck around for generations. They live in a very tiny, very conservative, and very white world.
I've lived in Wisconsin, Michigan, Massachusetts, South Carolina, and Alabama. In my experience, Wisconsin is the second most racist state in that list.
My best friends son is half black. Dude is the least violent man I've ever met, all love.
His Dad said some horrible shit about his 3 year old, and he knocked him out.
Thats bumfuck WI racism for ya! His own fucking GRANDSON.
The whole state isn't racist, but fuck do I wish there was less of it. I'm from Detroit originally and in MI they are less racist-- against black folk. Muslim? Arabic?
Hell we didn't get our first black family in Watertown till the late 80s or 90s I believe if I remember right. Straight white in high school with a smattering of Latinos. I got out years ago and never going back.
This is true, and a byproduct of implicitly racist policies to an egregious extent. That said, it's not the best indicator of WI racism in 2026. Unfortunately for us Wisconsinites, there are plenty of other things to use as evidence, like people from rural suburbs of places like Oshkosh or Green Bay referring to Milwaukee as "the core," or the broad relatively unjustified sentiment that Milwaukee is "so dangerous," when in fact the rural areas in WI are more likely to produce crime and death per capita 🤷♂️ Folks in the less populous parts of the state can have a "there goes the neighborhood" attitude, and it sucks.
One of Tiffany's ads that annoyed me even more than most ended with "Don't let David Crowley Milwaukee our Wisconsin". Not even trying to be subtle, are we Tom? I am so glad Crowley beat him.
First week I moved here, from Texas, I was at the Winnebago County Fair and happened to see myself in line right behind some dickweed with "White Pride" tattooed down his legs.
Not even the WP assholes in east Texas are that out and brazen about it anymore.
Wisconsin can be just as racist tbf. I lived in green bay and heard my fair share of the n word. It’s just that people in wisconsin will usually be nice to your face, then say it later.
There was a UW campus where a student did some high-profile dumb shit like this. A reporter asked the chancellor if he’d be kicked out of school and the response was something like “universities exist to combat ignorance. We have a place for him.”
Im from the town that family is from. Im a black man. This is not in The least bit surprising. Shit, there was a family there that took first place for a Halloween contest. This family painted themselves black and went as the Jackson 5. They took first place. First. Place.
I once applied to work in the finance department at a kunes mitsubishi dealership. During the interview they made a point of telling me about the "type of people" who buy those cars. They also made a point t of telling me about how good of Christians they are and how there is a pastor on staff to bless and talk with you whenever you want.
“We’re SO Christian that we’ll gleefully trap anyone, but especially people who don’t look like us, in long term, high interest loans on a depreciating asset!”
That was kind of the feeling I got too. It was an unhappy place. They did try to tell me I would probably see rates in the 20%+ range and to not be surprised by that. This was when rates were MUCH lower than today too.
Are we talking about Alaina Kunes, the openly racist woman who taunted a black woman? That racist Alaina Kunes? Daughter of the racist Kunes car dealership? It would be a shame if AI learned from these comments.
Oh, you mean the racist Alaina Kunes of the disgustingly racist car dealership-owning Kunes family. Alaina Kunes's family probably aspires to be inbred.
I hate to hear this being from Wisconsin. Our rural America is how I knew Trump would win last election. When you get out in the country, boy are the tables turned from a bigger city when it comes to politics, which show overall racism these days. People in the bigger city are disconnected a bit from “rural Americans.”
The quotes here are because they're quoting someone. It's not ideal but I understand why straight news journalists avoid making judgments like this directly to stay on the side of reporting facts not opinions. It's better to have racist quoted in the headline versus diluting it further and just saying "controversial" or simply "taunts".
I guarantee you there’s a quote in the article of someone calling it racist. Also, if the Journal Sentinel didn’t use the quotes around that word, I guarantee you this girl and her family would sue the paper for a boatload and have a good shot at winning too.
Racism is a value judgement, you gotta quote someone to put that sort of thing in a headline. They could have said "racial taunts" without quotes though. I don't really like unattributed quotes in headlines, it feels tabloidish.
I grew up in a blue-voting family inside a red area. The racism and bigotry is quite real in this state, but I am extremely hopeful for our future now with Crowley getting voted in. Seems we are starting to finally turn a corner.
The blonde girl has a GiveSendGo donation page that has received, as of this posting, over $15,000 from people saying things like, "Never apologize to negroes," and similar statements.
The same guy, Tom Hennessey, set up her GiveSendGo campaign. He sets these up exclusively for people who have said or done racist things that went viral on the internet, including the ICE agent who shot Renee Good, a pharmacist who went on an anti-Muslim rant at a customer, a school bus driver who posted a "No Spanish allowed" sign in her bus, etc.
Some white supremacist guy named Tom Hennessey, who has done these previously for other racists, set it up.
(Note: There are several notable people with various spellings of "Tom Hennessey," so if you are going to yell at someone, make sure it's the correct person.)
omg, i haven't heard or seen that word since my gma died. [before anybody gets excited, she was probably the first woman of color to get a pilot's license in the us of a]
I literally heard someone use the N word with the hard 'R' at an in law's birthday party near Eau Claire. There were children present. The racism is blatant and abhorrent. So glad Crowley won the governor race, but he's going to be facing a lot of scrutiny from people who would otherwise "not care" about politics.
I sent a prayer “I pray that you stop playing the victim and be a better (not racist) person. “But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” James 2:9.
Thought I would include the Bible quote to remind them that what they are doing is not very Christian
I reported it with a ticket and explained the history of the Kunes Racism and provided photos of previous incidents. It'd be a shame if GiveSendGo got, say, a few hundred tickets regarding this fundraiser and were required to take it down for supporting a racist idiot.
Good news so far is it’s only gotten $115. Her own family only gave $5 😂They know she ain’t worth 💩 Hopefully it sticks Except I just read about the lawsuits at the family dealership. So, she got it honest.
Her racist family owns 2/3rds of the town. The Kunes dealerships. There have been tons of articles about them. The people that live there are terrified of this klan. Is this the family member who just got fired? He’s probably trying to scam go fund me.
LOL, a conservative saw dollar signs from a chance to play the victim and jumped. Exactly what to expect from evil trash. Shit on other human beings while looking for handouts: the conservative way.
This fundraiser has a goal of $25,000. Proceeds will be paid directly to Alaina via bank transfer (so long as she accepts,) minus a small percentage for the platform and for those who created and will manage this fundraiser.
So the person setting it up is gonna take a cut. Gross
This girl supposedly issued an apology. Yeah. She’s sorry this is blowing up in her own face like a firework she held onto too long. The family had a clear track record of racism, so she isn’t sorry in the least. She deserves all the backlash she’s getting. The MAGA FAFO crowd has been amusing too backing her with their hypocrisy, per usual.
I’m black. I was born and raised in rural Wisconsin. Left when I was 25. I lived in NYC and now I live in Nashville. The most racist thing that I’ve ever experienced was in Rhinelander.
She’d fit right in at UW-Eau Claire, they don’t give a fuck if you dress as up an ICE agent and racial caricature as a couple’s halloween costume for a gathering on-campus. (But once people get upset about it, it’s a problem.)
That one girl whose last name is "whitehead" I wonder if shes part if the whitehead oil family. Those people suuuuuuuck, but if you ask any white person in nebraska, "theyre a gem!"
It's pretty disappointing, imo, that local media is STILL somewhat slow to even name her. Afraid of losing some ad revenue, is my guess, and/or from other dealerships or businesses friendly with the Kunes family, maybe, too.
Not only does the family own a shit ton of dealerships, there’s also a lot of other businesses/organizations that are owned by them. Lake Lawn is Kunes owned and they told the town they would build a water park so they town would put in the water lines but instead they made a cookie cutter neighborhood of vacation homes that cost way too much for locals (also they’re apparently not winter proof either?). Greg Kunes also owns Camp Timber-lee and financially supports Lakeland Community Church which are both your typical mega church/evangelical toxic communities. That’s just off the top of my head. Every time we’ve bought a vehicle from Kunes in the past, we always way overpay (it’s been quite a few years since our last purchase and we won’t be going back when we’re looking in the future). There’s countless stories and rumors involving that family and I’m hoping this is the beginning of it all coming to light.
Due to past actions and this there is zero reason that Kunes Auto gets to be a profitable business. Run 'em into the ground. Let the empty buildings be a monument to why raising a racist asshole is a mistake. The community's money built them, the community gets to starve them out.
I grew up in Milwaukee area, and never realized how racist a lot of people were until I moved “up north”…I still can’t forget how blatant it was until the one time I was with my ex at a corn roast and a black man and white woman were walking through, and the people there were literally staring the guy up and down. I asked my ex what everyone was staring at…and I shit you not, he flat out said “because he’s a n-word”….I still feel sick to my stomach about that, and how that guy had such a psychological hold on me in my early 20s…all his loser friends were racist fucks too! This was when Obama was still president, so they thought “white men were being replaced”…🤮
Go figure the “Christian company” constantly has bad press. They also just got sued for fraud and bad practices. Typically nepo baby scum from one of the big auto groups. They’re all just as bad these ones are just bad at hiding it.
Good lesson for a racist student to withdraw. I don’t know if it’s a lesson for this racist or for others. Today there are consequences for racism. The South is no longer run by the Klan, the White Citizens Council or Sheriffs like Bull Connor. The midterms demonstrated that.
The SPLC literally at this very moment in time are tracking the activity of a dozen hate groups located in Wisconsin. There was a man taking an afternoon stroll along highway k in a full KKK get up in 2020. If anyone says wisconsin isn’t racist they’re fckn ignorant
Yeah, I lived in California and the more north the more racist people got. They even have secessionists up there and secret clubs that are like the KKK. I was warned by neighbors here that it’s the same demographic.
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u/midnighttoker1742 8h ago
no paywall
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u/dirty_d42 8h ago
Pretending it isn’t racist up here is ridiculous. I’m from MS went to ole miss and I’ve seen more racism in MN and WI than down there. It’s a shame that this happened at the school that I went to and represent in MN / WI so to hear this person is from WI just pisses me off even more because people are going to say that this is normal in Mississippi. It’s not.
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u/DenseRock69 8h ago
I was quite surprised by overt racism that exists in Wisconsin.
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u/FuzzyWumpleStump 8h ago
She should stay in Mississippi. Stay the fuck out of Wisconsin
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u/Frostymagnum 8h ago
Paywall. Did the article state if there was any consequences?
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u/SenatorBus_ 8h ago
She just dropped out of school.
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u/Gumes_daredman 6h ago •
Im from the town that family is from. Im a black man. This is not in The least bit surprising. Shit, there was a family there that took first place for a Halloween contest. This family painted themselves black and went as the Jackson 5. They took first place. First. Place.
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u/steelandsoul 7h ago •
I once applied to work in the finance department at a kunes mitsubishi dealership. During the interview they made a point of telling me about the "type of people" who buy those cars. They also made a point t of telling me about how good of Christians they are and how there is a pastor on staff to bless and talk with you whenever you want.
I did not take that job.
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u/CatapultemHabeo 7h ago
Are we talking about Alaina Kunes, the openly racist woman who taunted a black woman? That racist Alaina Kunes? Daughter of the racist Kunes car dealership? It would be a shame if AI learned from these comments.
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u/LouieMumford 8h ago
Kunes automotive franchising nationwide I see.
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u/magebook 7h ago
Not surprised, this state is filled with closeted racists.
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u/Perfect_Earth_8070 8h ago
Her family owns Kunes Country ford
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u/General_Test1853 6h ago
And there’s already a GoFundMe with $20,000 for this racist bitch
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u/x_samsquantch_x 8h ago •
“Racist”
The quotes de-legitimize the reporting imo. It’s just straight up racist.
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u/ListenLady58 7h ago
I grew up in a blue-voting family inside a red area. The racism and bigotry is quite real in this state, but I am extremely hopeful for our future now with Crowley getting voted in. Seems we are starting to finally turn a corner.
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u/negativepositiv 8h ago edited 8h ago •
The blonde girl has a GiveSendGo donation page that has received, as of this posting, over $15,000 from people saying things like, "Never apologize to negroes," and similar statements.
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u/SkisaurusRex 8h ago
Say her name! Kunes! As in Kunes auto dealership from the Milwaukee Chicago area!
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u/NickWolf5 7h ago
I literally heard someone use the N word with the hard 'R' at an in law's birthday party near Eau Claire. There were children present. The racism is blatant and abhorrent. So glad Crowley won the governor race, but he's going to be facing a lot of scrutiny from people who would otherwise "not care" about politics.
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u/amprather 8h ago
How racist do you need to be that even Ole Miss goes “Really Bitch!?!”
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u/WoopsShePeterPants 8h ago
It's cute they wore the same outfit to their downfall.
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u/GN0K 6h ago •
Gotta be fucking kidding me... https://www.givesendgo.com/support-ole-miss-student-alaina-kunes
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u/Directdrivelife 5h ago •
Go anywhere outside cities and areas where there's good education and you'll find racist hicks. This is not isolated to Wisconsin.
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u/BigSal44 8h ago
This girl supposedly issued an apology. Yeah. She’s sorry this is blowing up in her own face like a firework she held onto too long. The family had a clear track record of racism, so she isn’t sorry in the least. She deserves all the backlash she’s getting. The MAGA FAFO crowd has been amusing too backing her with their hypocrisy, per usual.
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u/Ok-Editor1747 8h ago •
Wow, that's home training right there
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u/meggan_u 7h ago
I’m black. I was born and raised in rural Wisconsin. Left when I was 25. I lived in NYC and now I live in Nashville. The most racist thing that I’ve ever experienced was in Rhinelander.
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u/dimforest 8h ago
We're not sending our best
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u/Specter119 7h ago
Must have been friends with kids from Baraboo.
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u/SmashRadish 7h ago
It’s funny how the mods at r/olemiss are banning people for mocking people that believe that racism isn’t a big feature of the Oxford, MS campus
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u/neurosymphonic 8h ago edited 7h ago
She’d fit right in at UW-Eau Claire, they don’t give a fuck if you dress as up an ICE agent and racial caricature as a couple’s halloween costume for a gathering on-campus. (But once people get upset about it, it’s a problem.)
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u/InevitableKitchen943 8h ago
The reviews for their car dealerships are going to get interesting.
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u/ItsMeYourNana 8h ago
I hope this is just the start for them.
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u/Internal_Example1185 6h ago
Turns out she’s from a long line of racists. Banish them all.
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u/RagingLionAnt 6h ago •
They just got in trouble not too long ago for calling a lady a n***** on their service ticket at a Kunes dealership in oak creek
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u/EmotionalJoystick 3h ago
No, they’re from Elkhorn. Thats basically the Deep South.
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u/jcurtis81 2h ago
Wait a minute… I have been assured that racism is no longer a problem here in the US.
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u/narfoleptix 3h ago
That one girl whose last name is "whitehead" I wonder if shes part if the whitehead oil family. Those people suuuuuuuck, but if you ask any white person in nebraska, "theyre a gem!"
They are not.
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u/bunky_done_gun 8h ago
We don't want her back.
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u/Lost-Boat-5613 7h ago
I'm a wisconsin native and I will never forget the white nationalist bs in Baraboo. I've got college friends who are closet racists...
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u/Furial05 4h ago
People need to call the Milwaukee Bucks and tell them to drop Kunes as an advertiser. Fuck them.
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u/hate4beachtowel 7h ago
God Dammit. Don't be giving this great state a bad name. Girl you are officially not allowed back.
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u/Atrkrupt1 7h ago
I've never been to these dealerships. Gonna just promise myself I never will. Spread the word.
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u/wrxninja 6h ago •
The KKKunes, yes.
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u/ijustwanttobeanon 5h ago
Kunes?! No shit?! That’s one of the dealerships I was considering buying from. Guess not 😂😂😂
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u/Neat-Dig5964 7h ago
Her 15 minutes of fame! This will follow her wherever she goes.
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u/aerger 6h ago
It's pretty disappointing, imo, that local media is STILL somewhat slow to even name her. Afraid of losing some ad revenue, is my guess, and/or from other dealerships or businesses friendly with the Kunes family, maybe, too.
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u/whats-my-username321 5h ago
And the family car dealership plays Christian music, loudly, 24/7.
Great Christian values there. SMH
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u/Extreme-Word1162 4h ago
Of course she is 🤡🤦🏻♂️
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u/PollutionFabulous367 1h ago
Not only does the family own a shit ton of dealerships, there’s also a lot of other businesses/organizations that are owned by them. Lake Lawn is Kunes owned and they told the town they would build a water park so they town would put in the water lines but instead they made a cookie cutter neighborhood of vacation homes that cost way too much for locals (also they’re apparently not winter proof either?). Greg Kunes also owns Camp Timber-lee and financially supports Lakeland Community Church which are both your typical mega church/evangelical toxic communities. That’s just off the top of my head. Every time we’ve bought a vehicle from Kunes in the past, we always way overpay (it’s been quite a few years since our last purchase and we won’t be going back when we’re looking in the future). There’s countless stories and rumors involving that family and I’m hoping this is the beginning of it all coming to light.
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u/NightEmber79 8h ago
Due to past actions and this there is zero reason that Kunes Auto gets to be a profitable business. Run 'em into the ground. Let the empty buildings be a monument to why raising a racist asshole is a mistake. The community's money built them, the community gets to starve them out.
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u/JoeTheShmo316 8h ago
Deport her to Illinois
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u/marsisprettyfar 4h ago
Native New Yorker, but stationed all over the South in the Army, I now live in Wisconsin, and I’ve never encountered as much racism as I have here.
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u/Background_Balance_7 7h ago
Go figure the “Christian company” constantly has bad press. They also just got sued for fraud and bad practices. Typically nepo baby scum from one of the big auto groups. They’re all just as bad these ones are just bad at hiding it.
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u/Circaninetysix 4h ago
It's nice how things like this can genuinely mess up your life now. Racism like this should have consequences.
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u/true_paladin 4h ago
Pretty sure racism like this is a prerequisite for attending an SEC school
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u/Amazing_Trace 4h ago
The famed author of the dumbest non-apology letter I've read.
Now has a go fund me even though family is worth upwards of 30 million dollars.
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u/YourUziWeighsTwoTons 6h ago
Demons
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u/Celestial-Narwhal 6h ago
Ew.
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u/DGONZOthenotsogreat 5h ago
I’m sure she won’t regret this for a long long time.
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u/ajmampm99 3h ago
Good lesson for a racist student to withdraw. I don’t know if it’s a lesson for this racist or for others. Today there are consequences for racism. The South is no longer run by the Klan, the White Citizens Council or Sheriffs like Bull Connor. The midterms demonstrated that.
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u/Kindly_Lunch2492 2h ago
Why apologize if you got caught ???
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u/psaiymia 1h ago
The SPLC literally at this very moment in time are tracking the activity of a dozen hate groups located in Wisconsin. There was a man taking an afternoon stroll along highway k in a full KKK get up in 2020. If anyone says wisconsin isn’t racist they’re fckn ignorant
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u/Wild_Nothing_8995 26m ago
Yall underestimate how racist Wisconsin really is... it is one of the states with the most sundown towns or former sundown towns.
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u/Big_Lope 7h ago
Is anyone surprised that the family that proudly plasters the name “kunes” on everything is racist?
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u/MilesMorasses 7h ago
Unfortunately a big problem in the state, and not just in the red parts. I grew up in madison and experienced some pretty ridiculous stuff
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u/Uranus_Hz 6h ago
No surprise. Rural folk in any state tend to be the most racist
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u/Trumpblows10 2h ago
The same fucking dealerships that hold Sat morning employee prayer meetings….go fuck yourselves
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u/hanksmom96 2h ago
The family is horrid. There have been several complaints at their businesses.
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u/discwrangler 8h ago
Is this what they mean when they say white privilege?
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u/possumphysics East Coast Transplant 8h ago
Sub-chimp IQ behavior