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ACLU Files Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Against Virginia Beach Nightspot Over Hair Policy (1/18/2007)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: media@aclu.org
Policy Targets
African Americans By Prohibiting Braids, Twists, Cornrows and
Dreadlocks
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA - The American Civil Liberties
Union of Virginia filed a lawsuit today against Barry Davis, owner of the
Kokoamos Island Bar, Grill and Yacht Club, challenging a policy that prohibits
persons wearing braids, twists, cornrows or dreadlocks from entering the
Virginia Beach nightspot. According to papers filed in federal court, the
policy discriminates on the basis of race because it targets hairstyles
predominately worn by African Americans.
The ACLU represents
two African Americans, Myron Evans and Kimberley Hines, both of whom were barred
from entering Kokoamos because they wore dreadlocks. In June of last
year,Evans was with a group of about ten friends -- one of whom was a Caucasian
woman with spiked hair dyed black and platinum -- who sought entry to
Kokoamos. The woman with spiked hair was allowed to enter but not
Evans. Evans then asked to speak to the owner, and was told by Davis,
"There are other places that cater to your kind of crowd."
In
August of last year, Hines was with three Caucasian friends when she was also
denied entry to Kokoamos because of her dreadlocks.
The
Kokoamos policy also bans excessively baggy pants and Timberland boots. In
November, WAVY TV, Channel 10 aired a news report in which two persons wearing
the prohibited boots and loose-fitting pants tried to enter the club. One was
African American and the other Caucasian. The Caucasian was allowed in,
but not the African American.
"It is both shameful and disturbing
that decades after the civil rights movement we are still fighting such blatant
acts of discrimination," said ACLU of Virginia Executive Director Kent
Willis.
"Owners of businesses are given a wide berth in our
society to establish policies that allow them to create the ambience they desire
within their establishments," said Willis. "But they cannot set standards that
discriminate against patrons on the basis of race or
ethnicity."
The ACLU sent a letter to Davis on October 5, 2006
urging him to rescind his policy of barring individuals from entering his clubs
on the basis of a hairstyle associated with a particular race, religion or
ethnicity. The letter also threatened legal action if no changes were
forthcoming. Davis declined to take action.
A copy of the
ACLU of Virginia's brief can be found at: www.acluva.org/docket/pleadings/kokoamos_complaint.pdf
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