Stephen Lecce apologizes for participating in fraternity ‘slave auction’ fundraiser in 2006

Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce issued an apology after allegations surfaced that he participated in a fundraising event called a “slave auction” when he was a member of a fraternity at Western University.

The Canadian news website PressProgress.ca first reported the allegations Tuesday. It alleges that Lecce participated in the “slave auction” fundraiser when he was a member at Sigma Chi fraternity’s Epsilon Omicron chapter during the late 2000s.

The “slave auction” fundraiser is described as an event in which members of the fraternity would be auctioned off to the highest bidder to be a slave for a day.

A few hours after PressProgress published the story, Lecce responded in a statement saying: “The event from 2006 was inappropriate and in no way reflects who I am as a person, which is why I unreservedly apologize…I will continue to passionately advance the interests of all Ontarians- irrespective of faith, heritage, orientation or race.”

The Ontario NDP are now calling on Lecce to step down from the upcoming election as MPP for King-Vaughan.

“Mr. Lecce chose to lead and participate in events that mocked and trivialized this painful history. He also chose to conceal them for years as a public official,” said three of Ontario NDP’s black candidates, in a statement.

Last fall, following allegations of sexual assault on Western University campus during orientation week, Western student council voted to remove certain privileges given to the school’s fraternities and sororities, such as being able to advertise and host recruiting events on campus.