Posted on 03/20/2008 3:37:09 AM PDT by Man50D
A Philadelphia restaurant has been cleared of a discrimination complaint triggered by the owner's sign telling patrons, "This is America. When ordering, please speak English."
"This is a great victory," owner Joey Vento told WND today after the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations ruled his sign could stay in the window of Gino's Steaks South Philadelphia landmark store.
The controversy began in October 2005 when Vento put up a small bumper-sticker size sign.
On June 12, 2006, the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations launched on its own initiative a discrimination case against Vento. It alleged the sign violated the city's Fair Practice Ordinance by discouraging the business of non-English speaking people, including, most importantly, Hispanic-speaking immigrants.
"Joey is now totally vindicated," his lawyer Al Weiss of the Philadelphia firm Blinder & Weiss told WND in a telephone interview. "The Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations found Joey was within First Amendment rights to post the sign at his business."
Weiss told WND he was surprised Vento won at this level.
"We fully expected to lose the case before this commission," Weiss said. "The commission itself brought the complaint and heard the complaint. We thought we were going to lose and have to appeal, but the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations did the right thing."
(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...
Hey Yoooooooooooooooooo! What was that?
“....discouraging the business of non-English speaking people.”
I guess we have a new right in this country? The right to do business?
Unreal!
The commission probably realized that there would be a huge attorney’s fee bill to be paid to the defendant when he prevailed at the appellate court level.
Joey Vento is an American Patriot, thank you Mr. Vento for standing up to the forces of division.
I wonder what his sign will say today? :P
Just when you’re getting so depressed you want to slit your wrists, one of the little guys gets a hit and the game is on again. Thanks and God Bless, Jack.
The St. Lucie County School District and the Consulate General of Mexico in Miami plan to announce Monday a plan to distribute free Spanish-language textbooks to five schools, create some sister-schools and, perhaps, expand after-school tutoring options for parents with limited English-speaking abilities.
Too bad the School Board of St. Lucie County, FL, don't have the "big kahunas" to withstand this insult.
No Shoes, No Shirt, No English, NO Service!
A National Pastime Bump to that.
WOW- freedom of speech-what a concept.I vaguely remember
when we last had it.
God bless you, Joey, and thanks for sticking to your guns.
I am sick of "press one for English." I bought a phone card that at first did not have it but now has it.
Good job, Joey!!
Think I'll stop by for a Gino's steak this weekend.
This is America, please order in English.
No shirt, no shoes, no service.
Government employees fill out order form {in triplicate}, allow two weeks for delivery.
I have one of his “This is America Speak English” bunmper stickers on my cubicle. Congratulates. Now that the Philadelphia Civil Rights Commission is apparently engaged in a short period of lucidity, perhaps that can clear up their discriminatory issue with the Boy Scouts.
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