For Immediate Release:
Press Conference Tuesday, May 23, 2017
A recent complaint of discrimination has been filed against a downtown Athens bar!
“We must stand together in solidarity against discrimination.”
Athens, Ga- Mokah-Jasmine Johnson, President of the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement is holding a press conference Tuesday, May 23, 2017, to discuss a recent complaint of discrimination filed against a downtown Athens bar under Athens amended alcohol ordinance passed by the City Commission last year. Following the review of the evidence supporting the victim’s allegations, local Civil Rights Attorney, Ken Dious, has teamed up with Ryan M. Heron, a local attorney, and AADM advocate, to officially submit a complaint form to the Athens-Clarke County Attorney’s office on behalf of Kendrick Bullock.
The press conference is scheduled for Tuesday, May 23rd, 12:30 at Athens-Clarke County Library 2015 Baxter Street, Athens, Ga (not city hall) to disclose further details and inform the local community about the ongoing discriminatory practices of downtown Athens businesses. Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement mission is to fight against discrimination and advocate for racial and social justice through education and activism. To help protect citizens civil rights by providing resources and/or peacefully protesting against prejudice or bias beliefs that result in harmful or unfair treatment of individuals or groups. Therefore, organizers will advocate for and help to support Kendrick Bullock during this process.
Prior to this complaint being filed, on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2017, the AADM Civil Rights Task Team attended the Mayor and Commission meeting to express concerns regarding continuing complaints of discrimination by Downtown Athens businesses received through their online complaint form despite the passage of the amended alcohol ordinance last year. In response to the lack of enforcement of the amended ordinance, AADM members urged the local government to require that bars and nightclubs that do not have a dress code be required to post a sign explicitly stating that fact. AADM believes that such an action will prevent bars from selective enforcing dress code requirements to some customers and not others.
This press conference is being held to accurately inform the media and the general public, as well as make a humble attempt to address and reduce discrimination in our community.
For more information, contact organizer Mokah Jasmine-Johnson at 678 835 8497
Sad that people will do anything for attention.
No doubt that there is discrimination, but this particular incident was a setup pure and simple. How convenient that the first complaint of this kind came from a person who helped draft the ordinance. Did you notice how in the video he said “I’m Broderick Flanigan” and “they just don’t know who I am” and “I’ve got Chief Freeman’s number in my phone”? The bar was in violation for not having the dress code posted, but these guys went around until they found a dress code sign but no posted dress code and did what they had to do to make sure at least one of them was denied entry. Why would you have two attorneys representing you before there has even been a hearing? The job of the county attorney is represent the interests of the county in code violations and by extension the person who is making the complaint. This all just seems very suspect. The attorney is already talking about addressing this on a federal level. These guys saw an opportunity and they took it and that’s sad. It’s sad for all the legitimate cases of discrimination out there that go ignored and it’s sad for the people who are getting labeled a racist who will have that label over their head for God knows how long. Athens is a very unforgiving town for that sort of thing and they should be so for someone to yell that as a ruse is despicable. This guys is trying to get publicity for himself and for the different things he’s involved in. Not that it would or could be required in this type of case, but I’d love to see him and his brother take a polygraph test. Furthermore, I heard that while he is from Clarke County, he no longer lives in the county so I’m interested to know why he’s involved in any ordinance drafting when he’s not a resident of this county.