Racial slur on car dealership's oil change sticker; woman gets surprise gift
Racial slur on oil change sticker; woman gets surprise new car
A racial slur found on an oil change sticker at an Oak Creek car dealership has sparked a different kind of change.
OAK CREEK, Wis. - A racial slur found on an oil change sticker at an Oak Creek car dealership has sparked a different kind of change.
Makayla Starks said she is still in disbelief that her traumatic experience early last month has now led to a wonderful, unexpected gift.
A new car
What we know:
Since discovering the N-word typed and printed by a now-fired employee at the Kunes Buick GMC in Oak Creek, Starks’ now viral story is pulling heartstrings across the country. News of the incident spread to a dealership nearly 900 miles away, just outside New York City. Owner Ramzey Rizk reached out with a helping hand.
His call: to gift Starks a new car.
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They didn’t just give her any car. It's an all-electric Nissan Leaf. Rizk said he wanted her to have that specific car so she'd never have to go back to the source of her pain.
Ramzey Rizk and Rockaway Nissan
What they're saying:
"We were frustrated, we were upset," Rizk said. "The team here at Family Nissan actually pushed me to call FOX6."
"We’re hoping this helps Makayla by saying we are with you. We got your back," Rizk added. "Even though she’s in Wisconsin, and we’re in New York, we’re still family."
The gesture was rooted in empathy and admiration.
"The incident with the oil change sticker happened so that was pretty painful and harmful," Starks said. "The universe shows up in kind of strange ways. And I think the silver lining is that I’m unexpectedly getting a car out of all of this, which would be very helpful for my family."
Racial slur on Oak Creek car dealership's oil change sticker
A Milwaukee County woman said she went for an oil change and became a victim of racism. The N-word was printed on a sticker she received.
"It wasn't so much about giving her a car," Rizk said. "It was about giving her an electric car that doesn’t need anymore oil changes ever again."
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It’s the start of a new beginning for Starks and her fiance, Joey Koepp.
"I don’t think anybody saw anything like a vehicle being gifted coming out of this," he said.
Starks' attorney, William Sulton, appreciated the gift as well.
"Ramzey said, you know, he believes in the kindness of people and that somebody would help him and so that’s what he is doing," Sulton said.
What's next:
Starks will be flying to New York on Friday to officially get the car. She does not plan to keep her vehicle she bought at Kunes.
Kunes said it is still investigating the situation.
The Source: The information in this post was produced by FOX6 News.