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, center, with Russ Carnahan