Local bar special sparks debate
By:
Lauren Mylo
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: News
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Would you boycott it?
Some students are doing just that.
The Garage Door Saloon at the corner of Atwood and Sennott streets in Central Oakland has several signs advertising beer specials outside its door.
One reads: "Wetback Wednesdays, 5 Coronitas $7 9-11. 75 cent tacos all day."
Molly Ferguson, a recent graduate, saw it yesterday and went in to complain.
"That's very insulting," she said. "I pointed out what sign it was to the guy [inside], and I said 'I think that's really offensive, and I think you should take it down.'
"I don't understand how someone can get away with it."
She told her friend, senior Amelia Marritz, who made a Facebook group: "Boycott Garage Door and Its 'Wetback Wednesdays'" and also complained to the bartender.
"It's the equivalent of saying the n-word night with fried chicken," she said.
The Facebook group, which was created late yesterday afternoon, already had 14 members at the time of publication.
Under Marritz's name on the website, it reads: "loves tacos, hates racism."
Mark, the manager of the Garage Door who said he wouldn't use his last name, said it's meant to be a joke.
"It's an ad meant to be eye-catching, and obviously it is," he said.
He compared it to an Irish or Polish joke and said it all depends on how someone takes it.
"If you're offended by it, you probably shouldn't come in because you'll be offended by a lot more," he said.
"People call up about a sign, but they don't call in about people getting robbed all the time in South Oakland. People are worried about the wrong things."
He added Corona is brewed in Mexico, and they didn't have any problems making the sign.
Mark added that business on Wednesdays has been great.
Brad Paulik, a former Pitt student and frequenter of the Garage Door, said he thinks the word in question could be considered a racial slur, but people should have thicker skins.
"I don't think it's a big deal," he said. "It's not saying 'don't come here if you're Mexican.'
"It's a bar. People crack jokes all the time."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 51
Jesse Matthews
posted 2/29/08 @ 8:32 AM EST
I totally agree- it's a racial sign. Same thing as using the "n" word, or making derogatory statements about Jews, Asians, or any other group. The term "wetback" is just as bad as any of the other words people might think of, and they should take it down. (Continued…)
Brad Paulik
posted 2/29/08 @ 7:47 PM EST
The fact that this topic is even causing a stir is ridiculous. I challenge anyone who does not go to the garage door saloon a few times a week to name any other daily specials. (Continued…)
Mark Mislanovich
posted 3/01/08 @ 5:10 PM EST
I am not quite sure what I find more offensive, the name of the special or the bar owners ignorant reaction to it. In commenting: "If you're offended by it, you probably shouldn't come in because you'll be offended by a lot more," he is basically telling everyone that he is a racist and most patrons of his bar are racists, so do not come to his bar if racism is not your thing. (Continued…)
anti racist action
posted 3/02/08 @ 9:20 AM EST
the reason this is so offensive isnt simply because of the language used on the sign, it is because of the fact that the bar owner is a known white supremacist. (Continued…)
Michelle Zhang
posted 3/02/08 @ 4:37 PM EST
I have one question...
Do people who boycott and protest things like this boycott and protest Hollywood or the music industry?
How many times do we sit there and laugh at comedians, movies, tv shows, and music that uses the same racial slurs?
Do we have a double standard here?
Amanda Muskovich
posted 3/02/08 @ 11:04 PM EST
I agree with Brad. Not only that but I think it's really funny that it's not even the Mexicans complaining and boycotting, it's bunch of snooty caucasain hippie college females that have nothing better to do with their lives. (Continued…)
Nicholas Bilka
posted 3/03/08 @ 11:18 AM EST
Re: Amanda-The reason not many hispanics protesting and boycotting is that there really aren't many in this area. Something tells me these guys wouldn't feel so tough about saying this stuff if they were in L. (Continued…)
errepece
posted 3/03/08 @ 2:53 PM EST
This is a shame for Oakland and for Pittsburgh in general. I would give the owners-managers of this shitty bar the benefit of the doubt, and take this racist insult as an innocent joke gone bad, if it weren't for their reaction to the criticism. (Continued…)
Jared Trent Stonesifer
posted 3/03/08 @ 3:42 PM EST
The sad truth is that starting a Facebook group boycotting GDS is not going to do anything. The owner of the bar is hanging his advertisement on his property and it is his right to do so. (Continued…)
Daniel
posted 3/03/08 @ 9:04 PM EST
The fact that anyone could defend this kind of behavior turns my stomach. Racial slurs are not funny, innocent or appropriate advertising copy.
Having only moved to Pittsburgh 2 years ago I am not yet ok with this. (Continued…)
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