City Hall news conference to outline discrimination allegations

A news conference is scheduled for today at City Hall: lawyers for Kendrick Bulloch will outline what they say are allegations of racial discrimination against a downtown bar. The attorneys, who have not yet named the bar or given specifics of what is purported to have happened, do say the establishment violates an anti-discrimination ordinance adopted last year. The news conference is set for 12:30 at City Hall.

From news release...

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 his 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 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 (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.