Two civil liberty union lawyers say they were discriminated against by employees — at a Fresno bar.
The two American Civil Liberties Union attorneys say they went into the Brig Bar on Gettysburg and Blackstone, on Saturday, looking to sing a little karaoke, but Abre’ Conner (seen above with Congressmen Jim Costa and John Lewis) say she and her friend Novella Coleman, who are both African-American, were instead hounded by the bar’s staff.
“We can’t help but realize that we are the only two black women in this bar, and your keep coming up to us and telling us to buy drinks.”-Abre’ Conner.
That touched off a heated exchange that ended with the two lawyers getting kicked out of the Brig.
Monrae English, who’s representing the bar says the backlash was set off by social media posts made by the two women, following the weekend altercation.
“The owners have a right to ask for their patrons to purchase something in order to be at that bar. That’s an owner’s right, and this was no different. They’re receiving hate phone calls -they’ve had terribly negative posts on their Facebook, already. They’d like an apology, they’d like the girls to apologize.” -Monrae English, Brigg’s Lawyer.
Meantime, Fresno police say businesses have the right to refuse service to anyone, provided they do not discriminate against certain groups of people.
