Mary Znidarsic-Nicosia and her husband, Nicholas Nicosia, wanted to clear their names after being accused of throwing a racist party. So, they made a plan and held a press conference this week.

Step one: The wealthy, white couple from Rochester, N.Y., adamantly defended themselves against what Znidarsic-Nicosia called "false claims of racism."

Step two: Znidarsic-Nicosia confessed to a room full of reporters that she also happens to run a racist, anonymous Twitter account.

"In full disclosure, I do have a Twitter parody account that operates under a veil of a persona — and I have made blatantly racist comments under that persona," she admitted.

"The culture of Twitter operates that way. It gives you an opportunity to be someone you're not," she explained.

The couple came under fire after being named in a notice to sue filed by Jerrod Jones, a Rochester firefighter, against the city and the fire department. Jones, who is Black, said his former captain, Jeffrey Krywy, ordered him and other firefighters to attend the party thrown by the Nicosias on July 7, while they were all on duty.

Jones is seeking $3 million for emotional distress and at least $1 million in compensatory damages. Meanwhile, Krywy took an early retirement before the city could begin termination procedures.

Legal filing details alleged racist tropes on display at the July party

When the group arrived at the party, the filing states, "Jones felt immediately uneasy, and his uneasiness intensified as he walked...

Read Full Story: https://www.npr.org/2022/08/27/1119779663/rochester-couple-racism-allegations...