Teen takes on McDonald's--and wins

Chicago Tribune ^ | 4/01/05 | Jamie Francisco

[jimboster]

This is my favorite line of the story:
The rally is intended to highlight how the McDonald's and other Hyde Park businesses have instituted policies that seem to criminalize young people in the neighborhood instead of embracing them, said Melissa Harris-Lacewell, Smith's aunt and a political science professor at the University of Chicago.

The kid's mother is an idiot as well.

[SteveMcKing]

If it were me back in high school, I'd be outraged. Since it's Chicago we're talking about- I don't care.

[FreedomCalls]

The security guard then called Chicago police.

We happen to have a copy of that call to the police:

http://www.dslreports.com/r0/download/791234~195d5cd4dd2e6d70a9a66181288c35f6/911tape_1.zip

[Cicero]

The moral of the story is, don't harass a minority honor student whose mother is "an administrative assistant with the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture at the University of Chicago" and whose aunt is "a political science professor at the University of Chicago."

That's asking for trouble. They should have picked a loud, fat, white male to handcuff.

[Texas_Jarhead]

And another blow is struck for the cry babies and the weaklings that make their victories possible. Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

[jimboster]

I love that tape. Especially the part about "Aren't you here to protect me?"

[BROKKANIC]

At what point should the owner have said to herself... "Wait... This isn't fine dining for adults! This is a freaking McDonalds!"

[Critter]

I had a fight with a guy that owned a pizza joint when I was in high school. I forget why he wanted me out of there, it had to do with my being a punk high school kid I guess, but I was still eating and I told him to go... you know... hehehe

He grabbed me, and we ended up duking it out right there, and kinda fought to a draw,

After that, we actually became friends though, believe it or not.

Ah but those were different times. Today someone would have to be arrested and someone would have to sue someone...

[Graybeard58]

Since it's Chicago we're talking about- I don't care.

Pretty much my take on it too.

[MaxMax]

Restaurants can tell you where to smoke, sit, and which bathroom to use.
Or get the heck out! Students do not have the right to make others miserable.

[FreedomCalls]

I love that tape. Especially the part about "Aren't you here to protect me?"

Or the dispacher's reaction: "Protect you from what? A wrong cheeseburger?"

Similar calls here:

http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/communications/examples_of_999_calls.asp

Particularly good is the "potatoes" call.
(And the Flash presentations are very well done.)

[VastRWCon]

yes those where different times... today it could be dangerous, and life threatening. If they are black they USUALLY in most cases are un-civil, and public schooled, I am a victim mentality and if white they USUALLY are assholes and white-trash stoned on grass.

[Supernatural]

I think the kids should be allowed to sit where they want to sit, like anyone else. The girl displayed some backbone, in my opinion.

[VastRWCon]

So the new definition of "backbone" is "victimhood"

[goodnesswins]

Hmmmm.....wonder what happens when a smoker sits in the NON-smoking section?

[exnavychick]

Um, call me crazy, but I don't get why so many of the posts here seem to think this was okay.

[Kirkwood]

I'm with you. The kid had a right to sit anywhere in the dining room. Anyone who disagrees shouldn't call themselves an American.

[jess35]

Call me crazy, but I think the owner of a business holds all the "rights" not some snot nosed teenager.

[Kirkwood]

Baloney. It is a public place, not a private club. Even public clubs can't restrict membership and access.

[swmobuffalo]

Wondered when a public school slam would happen.