Restaurant wins challenge over ‘speak English’ signs
NEW YORK, March 20: Authorities in the US city of Philadelphia have ruled that the owner of a local restaurant who placed a sign asking customers to “speak English” had done nothing to violate discrimination rules.
The Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations ruled on Wednesday that the Geno’s Steaks restaurant could continue to display the sign, which had caused local uproar and fuelled a broader debate about immigration.
The commission said the sign, which read “This is America. When ordering speak English,” did not say that non-English speaking diners would be refused service, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
“The bottom line is that I didn’t do anything wrong,” owner Joey Vento, 68, was quoted as saying by the Inquirer. “It’s a good victory.” Vento had argued the complaint against him attempted to infringe on his freedom of speech and refused to remove the sign, the newspaper reported.
Supporters had rallied behind Vento, portraying him as a victim of a campaign of political correctness.
Despite labelling the commission’s action “ridiculous,” Vento said he was grateful for the publicity. “They made me famous throughout the world,” Vento told the Inquirer. “I became a hero. I’ve got to thank them for that.”—AFP
