LINCOLN PARK — A civil rights group is calling out 43rd Ward candidate Jen Kramer for a series of tweets sent from her personal Twitter handle that the group called offensive.
The more than a dozen tweets from Kramer's personal account include a reference to a Vietnamese pedicurist and driving in Cabrini-Green.
The tweets were brought to light by The Civil Rights Agenda, a civil rights advocacy organization founded by Jacob Meister.
"These tweets are not illegal. However, they are inappropriate, they show poor judgment and a lack of respect for other people that is offensive and just plain wrong," said Anthony Martinez, executive director of the civil rights group.
Paul Biasco says it's been a tight and heated race:
Kramer, director of entertainment and special events at Navy Pier, took responsibility for the tweets Wednesday morning, calling them insensitive and humorless.
"I clearly said some things on my social media feed several years ago that I shouldn't have," Kramer said. "But the notion that I am insensitive to gay rights is just patently false."
Kramer noted her work with Special Olympics Chicago, the Gay Games, the AIDS foundation and the Gay Pride Parade.
I'm fairly certain that my Vietnamese pedicurist is talking with her pals, Chow, Vu and Trin about the size of my feet.
— Jen Kramer (@kramerica) April 21, 2009@praetor1983 EXACT-REE (said the train riding Chinese guy)
— Jen Kramer (@kramerica) May 18, 2011Just about got side swiped by an Asian, female, cab driver. This is a bad driver cliche of epic proportions.
— Jen Kramer (@kramerica) July 15, 2011Nothing says adventure like taking a wrong turn in the 'deep' south side. In the rain. #thatshowiroll
— Jen Kramer (@kramerica) April 1, 2014I admit it. I speed up (a little) when theres a skinny blonde in pumps in the crosswalk on my green light. Fun to see her "attempt" to run.
— Jen Kramer (@kramerica) July 7, 2011Getting gas in the center of Cabrini Green. What can I say, I'm a girl who likes to live on the edge.
— Jen Kramer (@kramerica) April 21, 2010Gone are the days when a high pitched voice and moustache determine someone's sex. The worst part, I think it hit on me. Just my luck.
— Jen Kramer (@kramerica) September 14, 2011Men should be banned from using the words: Awesome, Fantastic, Amazing and Spectacular.
— Jen Kramer (@kramerica) October 16, 2009In court attempting to fry these punk protestors. Resisting wanting to beat them all up.
— Jen Kramer (@kramerica) October 8, 2009
The Civil Rights Agenda was alerted to the tweets from a supporter who was researching information on candidates in the race, according to Martinez.
The supporter, who is a past donor, is social media-savvy, and while looking over candidates' tweets became concerned about Kramer's, Martinez said.
"We did our research, of course," Martinez said. "We spoke to our board and made a decision to take action."
Kramer called the disclosure of the tweets "politics" and a distraction ahead of the Feb. 24 election.
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