KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City family filed a complaint against the Power & Light District alleging racial discrimination.
Seven African-American family members tell us on August 22 they tried to gain entry into the Mosaic nightclub. They say bouncers turned them away.
“We came to the door. He told me to tuck my shirt in or he wouldn't let me in. I tucked my shirt in and he still declined me entrance to the club,” says J.D. Bell.
The family says Caucasians dressed similarly to them were allowed inside the club.
“A dress code may be proper and in order but to what degree do you enforce that? And how much of a dress code should that be? I think that is where the problem lies, especially when we see white males getting in with rips in their jeans and they did not have one problem. They walked right past us,” says Khiana Leaphart who was part of the group.
This week the family filed a Charge of Discrimination complaint with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights.
The Cordish Company, Power & Light District, Entertainment Concept Investors, Kansas City Live Block and Mosaic are all listed in the complaint.
The family needs approval from the Commission before they can file a lawsuit.
The Power & Light District has been the center of controversy since it opened. Some African-American’s say their dress code is discriminatory.
Due to the controversy the City Council passed an ordinance regulating dress codes. It says P&L can no longer ban white tee shirts and large jewelry.
Arthur Benson, who is representing the family, says the ordinance isn’t helping to stop discrimination.
“They can apply the dress code in a just and equitable manner until there are too many minorities, in their view, inside the establishment and then they start applying it discriminatorily so they can keep their place from becoming too dark,” says Benson.
Zen Smith, Director of Operations for the Cordish Company, denies claims of racial discrimination.
“The Power and Light District does not discriminate in any form or fashion in the execution of our dress code. We've been working very closely and hard with the city. In fact we think we have gold standard for the implementation of dress codes,” says Smith.
He adds that employees have ongoing training to make sure they are complying with the city ordinance.
The family hopes others will join the complaint so they can file a class action lawsuit. They created a
Facebook page, which is soliciting others who feel like they have been discriminated against in the Power & Light District to come forward.
