Yankee Executive Accused of Racist Remarks Resigns

New York Yankee executive Richard Kraft, under fire for the past week after allegedly referring to black youths as “monkeys” in a magazine interview, announced his resignation Saturday.

“It’s my personal decision,” Kraft said in a statement issued by the Yankees. “It’s the right thing to do for my health and for the Yankees.”

Kraft has denied making the statements quoted in the article in New York magazine. Stress over the controversy aggravated Kraft’s heart condition, which was a factor in his decision, the Yankees said.

He stepped down from his job as vice president for community relations only hours after dozens of protesters from the National Rainbow Coalition marched outside Yankee Stadium carrying signs that read, “We’re Not Monkeys, We’re People.”

The Rev. Al Sharpton, who led the protest, said the resignation was a direct result of the pressure brought by minority groups.

“I don’t think Mr. Kraft’s health went bad in the last few minutes,” Sharpton said. “I think the Yankees’ health went bad when they saw scores of people marching in the rain who would keep coming back.”