I received the below message in an email. I removed the names for their protection. One never knows when a racist will raise its head and strike.
I was at Pepperoncini on September 26th and witness something very similar. A black gentelman in his possibly later 40’s early 50’s walked in wearing an Obama hat. One of the owners (not Paulie the heavier one) yelled at him to take the hat off. He followed him to the area where the bathrooms were, and then the Obama supporter left. A patron of the bar (who was caucasian) went outside ( I think to give support to the guy who left), and he came back in and talked to the owner. The next thing I know people were looking out of the windows. Apparently the owner told that guy to get out, and followed him outside, and was fighting him in the middle of Elm Street.
It was a very uncomfortable situation and I haven’t been back since.
2nd Story….
From: CM
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 7:12:02 PM
This story you are about to read is the TRUTH!! The Whole Truth!!!! So help me GOD. The incident occurred on Saturday September 12th 2008 around 12:45am. I entered the restaurant/bar to obtain a pack of cigarettes. I went to the bar and asked the bartender for TEN Ones for a Ten dollar bill. The bar area was packed. Every table was filled. It is important that you know what my dress attire for that night was. I was wearing hospital scrubs, Rockport shoes, a jogging jacket (due to the rain) and an OBAMA hat. While waiting for my change a patron (who I later came to find out was one of the owners of the restaurants) blurted out LOUDLY, ” Take that Hat off!! You can’t wear that OBAMA hat in HERE!!!”
I looked up to where the voice came from and responded back. “Yeah, Right.” After receiving my change from the bartender I proceed around the bar to the vending machine to purchase my cigarettes and leave. Unbeknownst to me, the patron that spoke out previously demanded in a stern voice that I removed my hat. Than he continued to blatantly voice political epithets at me about OBAMA so loud that a patron at the one of the tables near the cigarette machine advised me not to pay any attention to the rude comments. Even the off duty bartender who walked by me on his way to the men’s room told me to ignore the comments. I finally reached the vending area to purchase my cigarettes but to my surprise that patron was right behind me and forcible tried to remove my OBAMA hat with swipes of his hands. I than made a comment to him that we live in a democracy. To that comment the patron pushed me back and said, ” GET THE FUCK OUT!” I stopped in my steps and said, ” Please don’t touch me again.” He than pushed me again and said. ” I pay the FUCKIN BILLS in this place NIGGER! So get out!” He than followed me to the exit step for step and than shoved me out of the door and said, “GET OUT NIGGER!!!! And don’t come back!” After I was out of the restaurant he locked the door behind me.
I was so livid at the events that happened that I went to one of the neighbor’s house (next to restaurant) to phone the police. Surprisingly the police never came to the restaurant after receiving my call.
The MOST devastating part of this incident is that I WAS a REGULAR patron of this establishment. I was well liked by the bartenders, bar maids and kitchen personnel. I have spent a lot of money and referred numerous friends, and family to the restaurants for drinks and food.
I just wanted to write about my experience at PEPPERONCINI to let people know about it and hope NO ONE GOES THROUGH THIS.
Sincerely,
CJ
PASS THIS STORY ON…..
Take notice… avoid the PEPPERONCINI Restaurant (72 Poplar St Conshohocken, PA 19428)in a suburb of Philadelphia. The owner is a racist and doesn’t deserve our money.
Organizing for Change 