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03.19.2008 5:43 pm

UPDATED: Hubbard says he was target of racial incident in Soulard

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

State Rep. Rodney Hubbard says he was the target of racial intimidation in a lunchtime incident at Soulard today.

After media inquiries, Hubbard’s campaign released a statement saying that Hubbard was at Johnny’s on Russell Boulevard, eating lunch with his twin brother,Rontonyo Hubbard-Bey, and businessman Sam Salama, who owns a market near Hubbard’s home in Carr Square.

According to the statement, shortly after their arrival, two “visibly intoxicated” male patrons told them that they were in a “white bar.”

Hubbard, according to the statement from his campaign, left the restaurant and called police form outside.

“It is ironic that just one day after Sen. Barack Obama reminded the nation that its racial wounds have not yet healed, that I am personally reminded that our city’s racial divide is still very much alive,” Hubbard said in the statement.

“I know that the actions of these two men are not indicative of the vast majority of people,” Hubbard stated, ”but if an elected official like myself, a businessman like Mr. Salama, or a man like my brother experience this kind of blatant discrimination in 2008, it is clear we still have a lot of work to do.”

Police would not reveal details of the incident, but did confirm there was a “disturbance call” made and at least one summons for disturbing the peace issued.

We’ll post more info on this episode as it comes available.

UPDATE:  

The owner of the tavern, the eponymous Johnny Daus, says his staff have informed him that there were no racial comments directed at the Hubbard brothers or Salama. Daus was in the restaurant at the time, but in the downstairs office.

“I have two girls who were standing there the whole time and say nothing like that was said,” Daus said.

Rodney Hubbard

Rodney Hubbard

Rodney Hubbard, center, with Russ Carnahan

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54 comments

Comments are closed.

Sorry, Mr. Hubbard, Obama took all the race cards. You’ll have to come up with something else.

— Nick Kasoff
7:23 pm March 19th, 2008

I for one will never go to Johnnies to be served lunch, dinner, or drinks by those bikini wearing waitresses ever again.

Shame on you Johnny’s patrons for ruining a decent mans day, having a beer, and ogling a woman in a bikini.

Apparently more than skin was reviled at johnnies today!

— Bean_counter
7:30 pm March 19th, 2008

Nick,

Those three Black men have no credibility, is that how you feel? But, those two bikini clad wearing waitresses do, no doubt White waitress. The owner knows nothing first hand, but spoke so knowingly. Sounds just like America to me.

And how American like of you, some things have NOT really changed all that much in the hearts of Americans, has it?

But, we have a legal system that is much worst, totally and entirely racist, corrupt and unjust.

— D. Walker
8:10 pm March 19th, 2008

I have to wonder what is wrong with Johnny Daus that he thinks his response is appropriate. Rodney Hubbard has no reason to lie about this and he does not have a history of distorting the truth, so I think more investigation would be called for than just asking two waitresses and declaring everything was fine.

— G. Knott
8:16 pm March 19th, 2008

What do you expect after everybody thinks it’s alright for a black man to bash America and all it’s white people? And the forerunner for the Presidential nominee backs him up and blames all of America for the so-called racism against blacks that supposedly exists—eventhough AACP creates and hands out jobs hand over fist to minorities including Afro-Americans. Although we continue to give our money to the federal govmt. to dole out for welfare to minorities–but oh no, we Americans are so racist!

— Dan
8:32 pm March 19th, 2008

Oh yeah, Walker, the justice system is just so racist. We can’t help it all the blacks commit most the crimes and fill the prisons to overcapacity. Just watch the news everynight, all they show are the drive-by shootings in North St. Louis and East St. Louis.

— Jack
9:17 pm March 19th, 2008

Well, well. Now it’s politically incorrect to make a visual assessment of the patrons of an establishment.

— Tim
9:21 pm March 19th, 2008

Satan’s little operatives are feeling uneasy now, aren’t they. Too many in numbers are wanting change and to do better in our race relations in this country and Satan’s little workers of inequity are exposing themselves, taking off their masks behaving very very foolish. One of the things I can do now that I use to not be able to genuinely do is pray for God to bless you and change your hearts to reflect His will for your lives.

— D. Walker
10:03 pm March 19th, 2008

Let’s pray for you Walker and what you call rich rugrats who attend Harvard!

— Bill
10:21 pm March 19th, 2008

This is shameful and it is time for Representative Rodney Hubbard to resign. No candidate for Senator should be in a bar like Johhny’s full of naked women during a campaign. This makes Democrat’s family values look bad, African-American men look horrible, the cry of protesting real discrimination against African-Americans look cheap, and African-American politicians look backwards.

Johnny’s is not a proper place to get into a fight for Senatorial candidates, the floor of the Senate is the proper place to conduct battles. Johnny’s is an establishment that those of a different persuasion get together to date each other, and the women are definitely close to naked.

Good thing Rodney Hubbard is not married, and this is not the place to meet your wife. Instead of going to Johnny’s to meet your wife, Johnny’s is the best place in St. Louis to meet someone for that night.

“Once you go whack, you can never go back!”

— StandupDemocrats
11:54 pm March 19th, 2008

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