New Orleans to use mock 'customers' to explore whether racism prevalent in city businesses
Saturday, January 29, 2005 at 08:50AM
TheSpook
Hoping to quell accusations of
racism following the New Year's Eve death of a black tourist, the city
will employ mock "customers" to visit local businesses and report on
how they are treated. Levon Jones, 25, a college student from Georgia,
died after a scuffle outside a Bourbon Street bar. Three bouncers were
later charged with negligent homicide. The coroner said Jones
suffocated as one held him in a headlock for 12 minutes and another
pushed down on his back, preventing him from breathing. A third held
Jones' legs. Jones' family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the
bar claiming race was a factor in the fight. Jones was black and the
bouncers are white. An attorney for the Razoo Bar and Patio, where the
death occurred, has said the bouncers acted responsibly after being
assaulted. The use of mock customers -- who would be of varying racial
backgrounds and ages -- was part of a plan outlined Wednesday by Mayor
Ray Nagin and members of the city's Human Relations Commission. "Today
we are taking steps to determine if patterns of discrimination exist in
our shops, restaurants and nightclubs," Nagin said. The commission also
plans to hold a public hearing Feb. 24, during which people can testify
about their experiences with French Quarter businesses, the city said
in a news release. [more]
Article originally appeared on (http://brownwatch.com/).
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