Racism at Tony Roma's

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, 6-3-2005

Media contact: Ramona Washington; 559-273-0700 or msdiva [at] annmarieproduction.com

Picketers will continue to protest abrupt racism at Tony Roma’s

Fresno—Wednesday night at Tony Roma’s restaurant on 2003 West Bullard, Ms. Ramona Washington along with at least 20 other African-American customers experienced harsh discrimination, poor service and sanitation issues—however, the situation was much worse for Ms. Washington: her nephew took a spoonful of his ranch-style baked beans, shockingly spitting out a marble.

A night on the town to celebrate her nephew’s graduation turned into a deadly nightmare for Ms. Washington who was upheld by police officers under the misinformation of restaurant franchise manager-owner known as “Albert” who has had a history of discrimination and complaints filed against him so much that the corporation has threatened to take his ownership status away.

Ironically, her complaint of a marble in her nephew’s beans was taken to “Albert” who then accused her and the rest of her dinner party of refusing to pay for the meals.

Ms. Washington, a humanitarian and established business owner of an award-winning hair salon in Fresno—Celebrity Status Hair Salon, voted as Fresno’s number one “People’s Choice Award”— and part owner of a publishing company that recently produced a book on alleged mass murderer Marcus Wesson, was humiliated by four white police who surrounded her table; their hands were on their guns. Although she also called the police during the time the manager-owner threatened her, they came on the scene, rudely interrupting her as she spoke, not allowing her to speak to the situation.

Notorious for treating African-Americans poorly, protesters stood outside the restaurant with picket signs for several hours displaying to people and cars that passed by what happened. The manager-owner still refused to come out and discuss the issue with the dissatisfied customers; instead he sent his wife out to talk to everyone, including the media who was interested in getting both sides of the story. Refusing to show her face or have her voice on camera, the owner’s wife threatened protestors and the media with the police if they did not get off of the sidewalk in front of her restaurant, not realizing she would be in violation of one’s civil rights; freedom speech.

“My husband has been over-worked and we’ve only had this business for one year,” explained the wife. “I’ve been telling him to take a vacation, there have been a number of complaints from everyone—I don’t think he realizes the racial content of this issue.”

Ms. Washington had a different opinion, suggesting the use of “you people” in the manager-owner’s dialogue and his angry, scolding demeanor was very offensive, and the fact that the cops were called at all was only evident of racism.
“I’m sorry but your husband went from A to Z, with no discussion,” replied Ms. Washington to the wife. “There was no discussion or explanation of where the marble might have come from; we simply asked the question and the next thing we know, he has already called the police on us. Do you not find that discriminatory?”

The wife retorted she had no knowledge that the term of “you people” would have such a dramatic affect and that perhaps it is a learning experience; she also commented that she is not sure why her husband called the police, and she was going to research it further.

It was also observed that there were no African-American waitresses; the wife denied the claim suggesting that no African-Americans have ever applied for a job there. The wife continued by saying that if people have a problem at their restaurant, they could go to the other Tony Roma’s five miles away. Ms. Washington was not satisfied with the nonchalant demeanor.

“We should not have to go elsewhere,” replied Washington, “we as African-Americans should be treated fairly wherever we go. The answer is not to just go to another restaurant—that doesn’t solve the problem.”

Protestors continued for another couple of hours on the street corner in front of the restaurant and decided they will continue each day from 5:30 to 7:30 PM until the owner publicly apologizes for the racially motivated incident.