A New Jersey middle school vice principal has issued an apology after a video of him tossing beer at a group of restaurant patrons who wer...
A New Jersey middle school vice principal has issued an apology after a video of him tossing beer at a group of restaurant patrons who were filming his wife's transphobic rant went viral.
Cellphone footage captured Michael Smurro, vice principal of Neptune Middle School in Monmouth County, arguing with outdoor diners at Fred & Ethel's Lantern Light Restaurant and Tavern in Smithville, Galloway Township on Saturday after Smurro's wife Lisa complained about a transgender woman using the women's bathroom.
'A man just went into the women's bathroom, and it's not right,' she's recorded saying. 'It's not right. It's not right. It's not right. She's a man. In my bathroom.'
Michael Smurro and his wife Lisa (pictured) were caught on tape getting confrontational with diners at Fred & Ethel's Lantern Light Restaurant and Tavern after they tell Lisa 'please take your hate elsewhere' following her transphobic rant
'This needs to be removed, she's just spewing transgender hate, homophobia' the person recording can be heard saying.
When the couple becomes aware they're being filmed Lisa directs her rant towards the camera.
The couple then walk towards the table where the person was filming and Lisa Smurro continues her transphobic rant to nearby waitress.
The woman at the table tells Lisa 'please take your hate elsewhere,' before Smurro walks up and tosses beer from his cup at the occupants of the table.
'Here you go, pal,' he says to someone off camera. 'there you go.'
Smurro then takes several steps back and, gesturing toward himself, and says, 'Now you can come out. I'm right here,' before the couple walks away.
Lisa Smurro is caught on tape ranting about a transgender woman using the woman's restroom at Fred & Ethel's Lantern Light Restaurant and Tavern in Smithville, Galloway Township
Michael Smurro is caught on camera saying 'here you go, pal, there you go' as he tosses his beer at a restaurant-goers
Smurro is now issuing an apology for his actions.
'I allowed my emotions to get in the way of my normally sound judgement and reacted in a way that was inappropriate,' he told Associated Press in an email statement on Tuesday.
'I do not condone violence or discrimination of any kind and should have simply walked away. I apologize to the person I threw my beer at and wish I hadn't done so. I apologize to anyone I offended,' he added.
Neptune Middle School superintendent Dr. Tami Crader said the incident is under investigation and 'will be taken seriously.'
'The actions in the video do not reflect our district's commitment to inclusivity, cooperation, respect and non-violence,' Crader said in a statement. 'We are a community for ALL learners, including our transgender students.'
In an interview with the news site breakingac.com, which first reported the story, Lisa Smurro said she and her husband were having a private conversation when someone began filming them.
'We didn't bother anyone,' she said. 'This all began because somebody was in a bathroom that they shouldn't have been in.'
'He, she, whatever it was that day, it came into the women's bathroom that they shouldn't have,' she added.
Tony Cappola, the owner of the restaurant, told breakingac.com that while there are separate bathrooms that can be used by families or for privacy, there it nothing designated to separate those who are transgender.
Michael Smurro works as a vice principal at of Neptune Middle School in Monmouth County (pictured) the school's superintendent Dr. Tami Crader said the incident is under investigation and 'will be taken seriously'
'Everyone's welcome in our restaurant,' he said. 'Hate's got no place in our society. There's too much hate right now.'
Cappola called the confrontation an 'unfortunate, ugly incident.'
Cappola said he reached out to the sergeant on duty and had been trying to track down those who were victims in the incident, but the woman who recorded the incident, who identified herself as just 'Carrie', told breakingac.com she would not talk to police.
Carrie said some of the tossed beer landed on her boyfriend who was seated next to her while the rest splashed onto a nearby table where a child was sitting.
'It was overall a completely disgusting experience,' Carrie said. 'He assaulted a table with a child at it. He should not be working with children. His wife should especially be far, far away from children.'
New Jersey law prohibits discrimination based on gender identify. It permits people to use public restrooms that correspond to their gender identity.
The video does not show the transgender woman who Lisa Smurro said she did not want to use the women's restroom.
Her identity could not be determined, AP reported.
No comments