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Donald Sterling Canceled Plans To Give Out Toys In Watts Projects For Security Reasons
Donald Sterling (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)
Donald Sterling pulled out of plans to show up to a Watts Housing Project and give out toys in a naked bid to prove he's not racist for charity.The ex-Clippers owner was scheduled to show up to the 9th annual Chrismukkah Soirée "Party in the Projects" on Saturday in a secret appearance. Sterling reached out to Youth Mentoring Kids to show up with a sleigh full of goodies, and the group agreed. But then TMZ found out about it, and the plan wasn't so secret any more.
A rep for Sterling said they pulled out of the event because his security team feared for his safety while racial tensions are running high across the country. (Way to shift the blame to the neighborhood you're trying to help out!) Local city councilman Joe Buscaino told Sterling to stay away, too, unless he planned to give away much more than toys. Sterling did give away toys this weekend but in Beverly Hills on Friday night.
Sterling has a long history of trying to curry favor with the black community to rehab his image as a racist slumlord. Sterling was poised to received an award from the local chapter of the NAACP when the tape of him telling his mistress or whatever not to take black people to a basketball game went viral.
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Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
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