Preston Moore Racially Charged Comments Press Release

Local Cedar Rapids resident and public relations expert Preston Moore landed himself in hot water this morning with comments made on the community discussion board “Reddit.”  During a discussion of a new shopping center slated to open on the former home of Nash Finch distribution, a reddit user named nocarstoshow lamented that “we do have an authentic Mexican restaurant or two to look forward to.”

In his response Moore signed in to Reddit under the alias of “Yellow Lab Puppy” and poked fun at Latino immigrants, by suggesting that customers could look forward to “hot plate [sic].” Moore’s comments and negative insinuation towards those learning and studying English as a second language were not taken well.  Once user, whose alias is Reddit’s Top Mind, suggested Moore was being racially incentive.  Another user, whose avatar is IA Guy, agreed with the assessment; saying “The running joke making fun of ‘authentic Mexican’ restaurants cuts pretty close at times to veiled racism.”  Cedar Rapids Reddit moderators are now censoring any discussion of the racially charged comments, deleting any comments that depict the comment in a negative light.

Preston Moore works for The National Czech and Slovak museum in Cedar Rapids.  When contacted for comment, the receptionist at the museum was unfamiliar with the unfolding situation and declined to make a statement.

Moore is a frequent commenter in the website Reddit, and is also active in the New Bohemia community as well as organizing Cedar Rapids ComicCon a convention for comic book readers.

Reddit is a community discussion board sepearted in to many sections (known as subreddits) and the Cedar Rapids section, has nearly 1200 users.