On Friday, November 17, 2017, the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement (AADM) organized a protest at the UGA Arch to highlight a second discrimination complaint filed against a Downtown Athens bar. The rally began at 5:30 PM and concluded at City Hall on College Avenue. The event featured prominent local figures and political candidates, including Tim Denson, Ovita Thornton, Grady Martin, Mariah Parker, and Beto Cacao.
Earlier that month, on November 8, 2017, a young man, with the support of AADM’s civil rights advocacy team, filed a discrimination complaint against Jerzees Sports Bar at the County Attorney’s office. This marked the second such case in six months where AADM intervened on behalf of a person of color to expose discriminatory practices at a local bar. The rally was part of a broader call to action against persistent racial discrimination targeting Athens’ Black and Brown residents.
AADM President Mokah Johnson emphasized the broader significance of the protest, stating, “Within the past 90 days, AADM received several discrimination complaints, particularly regarding downtown bars. Yet, this protest is not just about the bars; there is a bigger picture. This is about exposing systemic discrimination and racism in our community, encouraging others to step forward, and defending our civil rights.”
The latest complaint underscored the patterns of racial prejudice that AADM aimed to prevent during its campaign for an amended alcohol ordinance. By organizing the rally, AADM called on community members to join together and march with a united voice against racism and injustice.
