Thread: Officials Call 'Speak English' Sign Discriminatory

Tavern Sign Reads 'For Service, Speak English'

http://www.nbc4i.com/news/5070718/detail.html

POSTED: 11:34 am EDT October 7, 2005
UPDATED: 11:40 am EDT October 7, 2005

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Civil Rights Commission has ruled a sign in the window of a southwest Ohio tavern declaring, "For Service, Speak English," is discriminatory.

The panel said Thursday the Pleasure Inn on U.S. 42 in Mason, northeast of Cincinnati, violated the state civil rights law.

Commission spokeswoman Christia Alou White said the tavern could be ordered to remove the sign, to pay for advertisements about nondiscrimination, and its staff could be ordered to undergo diversity training or cultural sensitivity training.

The business has 10 days to ask the commission to reconsider. The tavern owner's lawyer declined to comment.

Ohio law says it is unlawful for any proprietor of a place of public accommodation to deny the full enjoyment of the accommodations based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age or ancestry.

The commission said the English-only rule serves no purpose other than to discriminate against non-English speaking individuals.

Housing Opportunities Made Equal, a Mount Auburn-based agency that handles fair-housing issues for eight counties, including Warren, where the tavern is located, filed a complaint with the commission in July after callers complained.

"I really think it's an affront to Hispanic families in the area, and I'm glad that the commission agreed that it's illegal discrimination," said Elizabeth Brown, HOME's executive director.

And the madness continues, unabated

Oh, I'm so sorry!

!PARA SERVICIO, HABLA INGLES!

Si usted desea vivir en América, entonces usted ought aprender inglés. El inglés que sabe y de discurso es parte del proceso legal a sentir bien a un americano. Hable por favor cualquier lengua que usted desee en su propio paÃÂ*s pero aquÃÂ* en América, nuestra lengua oficial es inglés.


Translated to Engilsh
If you want to live in America, then you ought to learn English. Knowing and speaking English is part of the legal process to becoming an American. Please speak any language you wish in your own country but here in America, our official language is English.

Why, when we can get your country to pander to us?

I can only hope that this tavern will refuse to serve alcohol to those with only matricula consular ID cards.

I wonder if they did that would they discriminating?

I'm really tired of this idea that WE have to assimilate to illegal aliens.

Wait, how could someone that does not understand English be offended by this sign?

W

Good point W!

Ohio law says it is unlawful for any proprietor of a place of public accommodation to deny the full enjoyment of the accommodations based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age or ancestry.

I don't see anything about language here....

Well, I will continue to wear my t-shirt that says "Oh, you snuck in? SPEAK ENGLISH!" and I don't care who likes it!!!!