A Lawsuit Against an Old Town Nightclub Owner Brings Forth Incendiary Allegations of Racism
A racial discrimination lawsuit that settled in Portland on the eve of a scheduled June 17 trial contained allegations that an Old Town nightclub operator went to elaborate lengths to limit the number of black patrons in his clubs.
Prior to the settlement, lawyers for the plaintiff, Samuel Thompson, entered into the record at Multnomah County Circuit Court eye-catching allegations from former employees of nightclubs partly owned by Chris Lenahan.
"Lenahan would use the term 'flamingo' over the radios to signal each other and talk about black and African American people," Artie Haws, a former bartender for Lenahan said in a sworn statement. "For example, Chris Lenahan would radio to security: 'No more flamingos. We're at capacity.'"
In the lawsuit, Samuel Thompson, a Portland nightclub promoter who is black, sued Lenahan and his company Vegasstars, alleging that Thompson was refused entry to the Dirty Nightlife on May 25, 2017, because of his race.
Read more: https://www.wweek.com/news/courts/2019/06/18/a-lawsuit-against-an-old-town-nightclub-owner-brings-forth-incendiary-allegations-of-racism/
(Williamette Week)