WARWICK, R.I. — The former principal of Bishop Hendricken High School has issued a written apology to alumni for a brief video in which he uses racial slurs.
WARWICK, R.I. — The former principal of Bishop Hendricken High School has issued a written apology to alumni for a brief video in which he uses racial slurs.
Joseph T. Brennan Jr. retired unexpectedly on Wednesday after the six-second video was anonymously mailed to WPRI-TV and James Vincent, the president of the Providence branch of the NAACP. Brennan had spent 40 years at the school.
In the letter, which The Providence Journal obtained, Brennan wrote, "I would never intend to hurt any of the young men of any race, color or creed. ... I wish there was a way that you could know that in my heart, I am not a racist. I am not an anti-Semite and I truly care for each member of the Hendricken community.
"I apologize to our parents who have entrusted their sons to our school," he wrote. "You expected a role model, and with those words, I failed and I am ashamed of my words. You expected more from me and I let you down and for that I am sorry.
"I also ask forgiveness to the Hendricken alumni, the Long Green and Gold Line which is made up of tens of thousands of graduates. I have tarnished the great legacy of Bishop Hendricken High School, and for that I am sorry and ask for your forgiveness."
Brennan could not be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, Vincent said he plans to sit down with school administrators sometime next week. The time of the meeting has not yet been set, and Vincent doesn't know what school leaders want to discuss with him.
Brennan concluded by writing that "My heart is broken that I have caused division, controversy and anger. For my entire career, I have tried to bring people together and in a few seconds of terrible use of words, I have created hatred and anger."
Brennan did not say who taped him making those comments, nor did he provide any context for the slurs.