Judge allows proposed Sesame Place lawsuit to move forward

well a judge is allowing a lawsuit against Sesame Place to move forward you may recall one year ago a mother's video went viral after she posted it on Instagram claiming her daughter and niece were ignored by a character at the theme park located just outside of Philadelphia well the video sparked complaints from other parents who said they experienced something similar those other families are seeking 50

million dollars in a proposed class action lawsuit against Sesame place's parent company Sea World parks and entertainment sea world has denied wrongdoing and an exclusive interview last year I spoke to four families involved in the suit why are you guys here today I represent my daughter to represent your daughter I agree not only our children yes but all of them that's right all of the children

to Instagram claiming her daughter and niece were snubbed by a Sesame Place character during a visit to the park she says the children were overlooked because they're black but Sesame Place denied that claim I was sad while Brown has not filed a suit against the park and is not part of this proposed class action lawsuit it was her experience that triggered reaction from other parents who

also have video when I saw the video it was an aha moment for me because for so many years I've just kind of like brushed It Off why is it that my children never once never once received a hug never once received a high five maybe next time from any of the characters [Music] my daughter yeah she's three so when that incident happened at the park

she's like you know I'm saying hi I'm saying hi but what's going on so I just told her you know maybe next time baby I couldn't explain to my five-year-old of what happened to her because she wouldn't understood did she ask you the only thing she said was daddy why they didn't give me high five and out you know I I'm like I don't know you

know just try it again what makes you all sure that this is racism the children next to my daughter um they looked completely opposite of my daughter and she was denied several times different characters and two white kids sitting right here on each side of her my daughter was right in the middle and he just gave him a high five skipped her gave him a high

five he was standing up in a chip in another white little kid high five and kept going while my daughter was reaching out you just kept on going we were this close to the other families high five this family skipped over her if it wasn't racism what was it attorneys Malcolm Ruff and William H Murphy Jr represent the families how do you prove its discrimination by

the pattern what we see is a failure to be able to recognize what racial discrimination is overt racism and more subtle forms of racism are the same they're still racism they're still extreme harm that's done to Citizens that have a fundamental right not to experience that type of racism is this about money is this about sending a message is it both it's about all of that

every amusement park in America is watching this case and so uh when they see what we will do as a result of what we see happening around the country they will rethink their policies because they don't want to be in this position what company do you know wants to be sued like this in a statement to CBS News Sesame Place says the park has been committed

to upholding the values of respect inclusion and belonging for over 40 years the statement went on to say that earlier this year we announced a series of comprehensive actions to enhance our efforts related to diversity equity and inclusion we're going to find justice but I feel like it has taken the innocence of my child so they can give us even a billion dollars that's not going

to bring back my daughter's innocence so all the damage that that creates in a little girl especially now today with all the social media you know how many young children already suffer from all of these insecurities as it is especially as a young girl to also have to deal with this when this should have already been obliterated as again especially in Sesame Place like come on

well a Sesame Place spokesman says we want every child who comes to our park to feel included seen and inspired now since the incident last year the park says all staff members have completed training to address implicit bias promote inclusion and prevent discrimination