Leftist writer and culture critic Touré appeared to justify the death of an elderly white customer who was punched by a younger black man over the alleged use of the ‘n-word.’
Touré’s remarks on Twitter came in response to reports about a 77-year-old white male customer at a Dunkin Donuts franchise in Tampa, Fla., who died earlier this month after being struck by 27-year-old Corey Pujols following what the employee claimed was the customer’s repeated use of the racial slur.
According to Tampa police, the older man, who was not named, first came to the drive-thru window but became upset about the service, leading employees to ask him to leave. But instead, he reportedly drove around, parked his vehicle, and went inside the building where he got into an argument with Pujols.
The clerk told officers that the man was a regular customer and he was “extremely rude” during the May 4 confrontation, allegedly calling Pujols, who is black, the racist slur. Pujols said he asked the man to repeat the word and after he allegedly did so, Pujols punched the customer one time in the face, which caused him to fall backward and strike his head on the concrete floor.
Police did not include the racial slur in their report, the Tampa Bay Times noted.
The store’s surveillance camera captured Pujols striking the customer once. It also shows that the customer never touched Pujols at all.
Initially, police arrested Pujols, who was listed on the arrest report as the store’s manager, and charged him with battery of someone older than 65. He was released the following day on his own recognizance after posting a $2,000 bond.
But the injured customer died at Tampa General Hospital on Friday, the local paper reported. A subsequent autopsy found that the deceased customer had a fractured skull and contusions to his brain as a result of blunt head trauma caused by his fall.
A pathologist at the Hillsborough Medical Examiner’s Office informed police that the death would be ruled a homicide, leading police to obtain an arrest warrant for aggravated manslaughter against a person older than 65, a felony charge that carries a sentence of up to 30 years behind bars.
Pujols was detained at his apartment Friday and is now being held without bail. Court records indicate he has been appointed a public defender.
“We are deeply saddened by the incident at our franchised restaurant in Tampa,” a spokesperson for Dunkin’ said in an emailed statement. “The franchisee, who independently owns and operates this restaurant, is fully cooperating with the local authorities. As this is an ongoing investigation, we defer any additional questions to the police.”
However, in Touré’s mind, Pujols was justified in killing the elderly man.
Warning: Strong language
“A 77 yo white customer at Dunkin Donuts was upset about something and he called a Black 27 yo employee the n-word. The brother told him say it again. The old man did. The brother knocked him out. The old man fell, lost consciousness, and died. He f**ked around and found out,” Touré wrote at the beginning of a Twitter thread Wednesday.
“If there was actual justice in this country, as opposed to white justice, then if you went to someone’s minimum wage job and called them the n-word twice, whatever happened after that would be legally acceptable,” he added.
“Don’t act like the punch was the first violent act. That was a retort. That was self defense. Calling someone the n-word is violence,” Touré went on to post.
“Punching someone in self-defense isn’t wrong,” he added in response to someone who criticized his stance.
In another response, Touré went on to claim, “Calling me the n-word is threatening my life.”
“The n-word is not “rude,” it’s a threat to my humanity, it’s a disregard of my life, it’s a rejection of my dignity. It’s far beyond rude, it’s as violent as language can be. F**k around and find out,” he continued.
He added: “Let’s not lose sight of the fact that a man lost his life here. He called a Black man the n-word twice and now he’s dead. Serves him right. He fucked around and found out.”
If there was actual justice in this country, as opposed to white justice, then if you went to someone’s minimum wage job and called them the n-word twice, whatever happened after that would be legally acceptable.
— Young Daddy (@Toure) May 12, 2021
Don’t act like the punch was the first violent act. That was a retort. That was self defense. Calling someone the n-word is violence.
— Young Daddy (@Toure) May 12, 2021
Punching someone in self-defense isn’t wrong. https://t.co/4To7mMaqSS
— Young Daddy (@Toure) May 12, 2021
Calling me the n-word is threatening my life. https://t.co/KfBjD8bjGZ
— Young Daddy (@Toure) May 12, 2021
The n-word is not “rude,” it’s a threat to my humanity, it’s a disregard of my life, it’s a rejection of my dignity. It’s far beyond rude, it’s as violent as language can be. Fuck around and find out. https://t.co/gJulldfM9q
— Young Daddy (@Toure) May 12, 2021
Let’s not lose sight of the fact that a man lost his life here. He called a Black man the n-word twice and now he’s dead. Serves him right. He fucked around and found out.
— Young Daddy (@Toure) May 12, 2021
Others took Touré to task for his justifying the older man’s death.
I believe that’s called revenge, not justice
— Silas Ashe (@SilasAshe) May 13, 2021
Me, as a dictator, I asked my gang to punch and whatever happened after that was justifiable.
Long live dictators like me and Toure— NicolaeCeausescu (@NickCeausescu) May 13, 2021
Yes, sure. If someone says a word that makes your tummy hurt, you can murder them. Great position to take here. Not psychotic at all. Well done, folks.
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) May 12, 2021
They always lie and say they heard the N-word, but they never have proof, because it didn’t happen.
— Derrick Arthor (@DerrickArthor) May 12, 2021
You really believe that? The brother had a counter between him and old man. He could have yelled it 10x over like a rap song, it doesn’t justify knocking an old man out that hasn’t physically touched you. Sorry. Not buying what you’re selling.
— Coach Bryan (@DrB365) May 12, 2021
Lol so with that logic justify a cop killing someone for calling then names and they feel threatened?
— PearsonT (@RacismOnscreen) May 12, 2021
So you agree that all people of all colors should stop using the n-word and you repudiate those that do, including rappers like Cardi B who used it in the top song of last year? The word is abhorrent and should be eliminated from our American culture.
— Kenneth McAndrew (@kmac23va) May 12, 2021
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