And in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale University has placed a gag order on dishwasher Corey Menafee, who broke a stained-glass window depicting smiling enslaved Africans carrying bales of cotton. Menafee broke the window in Yale’s residential dorm Calhoun College, named after former Vice President John C. Calhoun, one of the most prominent pro-slavery figures in American history. Yale fired Menafee. He was also charged with felony mischief. But after widespread condemnation of Yale’s actions, the charges were formally dropped, and Menafee was offered his job back. But Menafee’s agreement with Yale now prohibits him from speaking about his case. Earlier this month, Manafee spoke to Democracy Now!
Corey Menafee: “You know, it’s a picture—it was a picture that just—you know, as soon as you look at it, it just hurts. You feel it in your heart, like, oh, man—like here in the 21st century, you know, we’re in a modern era where we shouldn’t have to be subjected to those primitive and degrading images.”
Click here to see our full interview with Corey Menafee.