A Wake County man whose discrimination claims went viral online is now going public.
Jonathan Wall said the response to his email alleging discrimination has been overwhelming. He said he never thought his negative experience at a Raleigh bar would bring so much attention, but he now welcomes it.
“I’m left to ask what left me so undesirable as a patron for any establishment in downtown Raleigh,” said Wall.
The color of his skin is what Wall said got him kicked out of Raleigh’s “Downtown Sports Bar” last weekend.
“What was so demoralizing about this reality is that I worked to do everything right,” said Wall. “[I] studied hard, worked hard, served others. Yet, I was treated as though I did something wrong.”
Wall, a Harvard-bound grad student, said he and two friends were profiled the minute they walked up to the door of the bar, but eventually got in. Attorney Alesia Vick said profiling soon turned into discrimination.
“[The staffer] told Jonathan to buy a drink or leave,” said Vick. “Again, it is worth noting he was not the only person in the bar without a drink, but he was the only African-American male in close proximity without a drink.”
Within minutes, Vick alleged the same staffer became violent with Wall.
“[He] returned to where Jonathan was standing, assaulted him and forcibly removed him from inside the bar, and attempted to throw him to the ground once outside,” said Vick.
Upset, Wall found a nearby police officer and complained. He said he didn’t file a report, because it was his word against the staffer, and he may have been charged as well. Instead, Wall wrote an angry e-mail about the incident. That email quickly went viral with others claiming they also faced discrimination at the bar.
