A RACING announcer has been fired after a racist rant about the “black national anthem” and telling protesters who kneel to leave the US.
The host – identified online as Lon Oelke – told fans: “Here’s your social service announcement – if you won’t stand for our flag, if you’re gonna take a knee…I got four words for you: Find a different country.”
In comments made before the races on July 15 at the Kossuth County Speedway in Algona, Iowa, he added: “Get the hell out of dodge.
“A lot of people have sacrificed many things in their lives for us to be able to do these liberties.
“I’ve heard about all the stuff going on in the NFL and now they’re going to have another national anthem for those folks, for the…I guess…darker-toned skin color, I’ll just say blacks.
“They want a different national anthem and the NFL is thinking about doing it. So I say shut the TVs off and let them play in front of nobody. Yes, that’s my announcement.
“I salute the veterans coming up.”
FANS CHEER
His comments appear to have been well received among spectators, with applause and cheering heard in the footage.
The Kossuth County Speedway in Algona, Iowa, said its leaders “do not condone” the comments.
They called it an isolated incident.
Fairmont Raceway in Minnesota identified the announcer on its Facebook page as its longtime track announcer Lon Oelke, according to the Associated Press.
Promoter Jon McCorkell wrote that Oelke would “absolutely be announcing” races on Friday night and would receive a standing ovation before the national anthem.
McCorkell added that he agreed “with all of Lon’s comments and opinions” and several commenters chimed in with praise for Oelke.
That post appeared to have been removed as of Friday morning.
A listed phone number for Oelke was disconnected, The AP reported, and he didn’t immediately respond to messages online.
‘NOT OKAY’
The speedway and the county’s fair board said its management did not hear the comments at they time.
They said they only came to their attention after they were posted to Twitter on Thursday.
In its statement, the speedway said the man who made the comments was filling in for its lead announcer and would not be employed at any future track events.
“It was not okay, and it will not be happening again,” the statement said.
“Kossuth County Speedway looks forward to proving to our fans, drivers and crews that we can and will do better.”
The announcer’s comments were broadcast on FloRacing, which provides livestreams of racing events.
FloRacing said it had removed the broadcast, adding that the announcer’s “opinions and language do not reflect our core values or have a place on our platform.”
