Oberlin College has issued a statement on the lawsuit between the school and a local bakery rooted by accusation of racial profiling.
The dispute began in November 2016 with the arrest of three black students from Ohio's Oberlin College who tried stealing wine from Gibson's Bakery.
The bakery filed a lawsuit last month accusing the college and a top dean of slandering Gibson's as a "racist establishment" and taking steps to destroy the family's livelihood.
The college issued the following statement to WKYC on Monday:
"Oberlin College and Dr. Raimondo deny and reject all claims asserted in the lawsuit filed by Gibson Bros., Inc. in the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas. The allegations are untrue and we will vigorously defend against them.
The College values its long relationship with the town of Oberlin and its businesses, including Gibson's Bakery. We are saddened that the Gibson family has chosen to pursue litigation. As this is now a legal matter, the College will suspend, effective immediately, its business relationships with Gibson's Bakery until such time as a mutually productive relationship may be re-established. We will have no further public comment on this matter."
The three students pleaded guilty to attempted theft and trespassing and said the store wasn't racist. Even so, students continue to boycott Gibson's over perceived racial profiling.
