Family Sues Disneyland, Calls 'White Rabbit' Racist

Black family says costumed character discriminated against them
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 7, 2013 2:50 PM CST
Updated Feb 10, 2013 7:47 AM CST
Family Sues Disneyland, Calls 'White Rabbit' Racist
The White Rabbit is shown in a scene from Disney's "Alice in Wonderland."   (Wikimedia Commons)

According to a lawsuit, the Black family went to Disneyland and got shunned by the White Rabbit—literally. The San Diego family is suing the amusement park because, they say, the employee playing the Alice in Wonderland character was racist. Last August, 6-year-old Jason Black tried to hug the "rabbit" and his older brother Elijah tried to hold his hand, but the employee ignored the boys, they tell Fox News. "The rabbit was turning his back on him like he didn't event want to touch him," Elijah recalls. "I went up to try to hold his hand but he kept on flicking my hand off."

But when two white children approached (the Blacks are black), the character showered them with attention and hugs, the boys' parents say. The family filed a complaint, with photo evidence, but they weren't satisfied with management's offer of VIP passes. They want a public apology and for the employee to be fired, in order to ensure "this doesn't happen to another family," says Jason Black Sr. They hired an attorney after months of battling, when Disney asked them to sign a confidential waiver in exchange for $500, and are now asking Disney to review surveillance footage of the incident. (More strange stuff stories.)

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