Much-Needed Time Off
Karl Baker finally had some time off to relax and recharge after a 12 hour shift. He decided to sleep in, watch TV, and enjoy some good food.
Much Needed Time Off
Time for Lunch
Karl woke up late and was greeted by his adorable pup. He looked at his clock and realized that it was almost lunchtime. After enjoying a leisurely cup of coffee, he decided to treat himself to brunch at a local restaurant.
Time For Lunch
Back of the Line
When Karl reached the restaurant, he saw there was a line to be seated. As he stood waiting, he realized there was tension in the air. He wasn’t sure what was going on. The thing was, Karl’s line of business usually meant that he wasn’t often mistreated. However, nobody at this restaurant knew who he was.
Back Of The Line
A Bad Choice
The line for the restaurant was very long, and as he stood and waited, his hunger continued to grow. Karl was always very picky about what he liked to eat, so he hoped that he would like what he would end up ordering.
A Bad Choice
A Long Wait
Karl assumed that the food at this place must be good since the line was so long. By the time he reached the front of the line and it was finally his turn, he was already starving. He didn’t realize that he would face a situation that would significantly delay his mealtime.
A Long Wait
Not Having a Good Day
Once he finally reached the front of the line, Karl greeted the cashier politely and started to get ready to make his order. However, she did not respond to him kindly. Karl thought that perhaps she wasn’t having such a good day and he continued to be friendly towards her. That did not seem to improve her attitude at all.
Not Having A Good Day
Unavailable
When Karl finally told her what he’d like to order, he was surprised to hear that the dish he wanted to order was not available. Even though he was disappointed, he decided to opt for another meal instead. When he gave her his order, she said that none of the options were avaiable.
Unavailable
A Poor Attitude
Karl immediately became both confused and frustrated. How was it possible that none of the dishes were available? In fact, all of the specials were even listed on a chalkboard. If he had known that none of the dishes were available, he would not have wasted his time standing in such a long line.
A Poor Attitude
Needing to Leave
When Karl tried to understand what was going on, the waitress simply rolled her eyes at him. The combination of being hungry, being told he couldn’t eat, and the woman’s horrible attitude really got to Karl. He tried to tell her off, but she told him that he had to leave immediately.
Needing To Leave
Making a Scene
Despite the waitress insisting that he had to leave, Karl stood his ground and demanded to speak to the woman’s manager. Without even responding to him, she called out to the back for the manager. The manager showed up and told Karl that he was holding up the rest of the line.
Making A Scene
The Manager
Karl was slowly starting to realize why the restaurant workers were acting the way they were towards him. He quickly denied their claims that he was holding up the line, explaining that the line was already quite long when he arrived. He tried to explain to the manager what had happened, but her reaction caught him off guard.
The Manager
Laughing At Him
While Karl was trying to explain the situation, a cook came out from the back towards the register in order to inform the manager of something. When speaking to the manager, the cook pointed at Karl and said that he should be removed from the restaurant and that she was not willing to serve him. The manager laughed in response.
Laughing At Him
Not Listening
Karl was frustrated by the fact that nobody was listening to him and that the manager was not taking his complaint seriously. She told him that his establishment would not be serving someone “like him.” Karl was absolutely astounded. What on earth did she mean by someone “like him?”
Not Listening
Enough Was Enough
At this point, Karl felt that he had had enough. He was not going to be nice and polite anymore. He continued to try to explain the situation to her and tried to tell her that it was in her own interest to serve him just like any other customer. His next move surprised everyone there.
Enough Was Enough
Looking Down on Him
The manager looked at him coldly and arrogantly told him that she did not have to explain herself to anyone and that he had to leave the establishment immediately. Karl was not used to this kind of treatment from anyone and certainly was not used to people looking down on him.
Looking Down On Him
Missing His Uniform
Karl was acutely aware of the fact that the manager or restaurant workers had no idea who he was or how influential he could be. He realized that walking around without his uniform would show him how people truly respond to him. He felt mistreated and upset, so he decided to take note of the situation and do something about it.
Missing His Uniform
The Audacity
He started to look around for witnesses who saw what had happened when he tried to order his meal. When he noticed that everyone around him was staring at him, he felt quite embarrassed. He didn’t understand why the establishment had had the audacity to mistreat him like this.
The Audacity
Not Letting it Go Unpunished
At that point, Karl knew that there was really nothing left to be said anymore and he decided to leave the establishment. He was angry, hurt, sad, and humiliated by the whole ordeal. He knew that he could not just let it go. That’s when he hatched his plan.
Not Letting It Go Unpunished
The Man in the Uniform
The next morning, Karl put on him uniform. Although he had many things that he needed to tend to, he also knew that confronting the people who had mistreated him the day before was also a main priority for him. Although he was a bit nervous about it, he promised himself he would go back there.
The Man In The Uniform
His Appearance
After a call-out, Karl decided it was time to go by the restaurant once again. After he pulled his cruiser into the parking lot and stepped out, everyone in the establishment was immediately aware of his presence. He got out of the car and walked in.
His Appearance
All Smiles
Immediately, all of the staff members greeted Karl politely, even the waitress who had been so rude the day before. When she started to realize who he was, her smile began to fade and was replaced by a horrified look. It was finally time for Karl to face the rude manager.
All Smiles
Calling the Manager
He asked the cashier to call for her manager again. He patiently waited for her to maker her appearance. He felt in control of the situation, standing with one hand on his hip and another holding on to his radio.
Calling The Manager
Going Viral
Karl’s story of his mistreatment at the restaurant went completely viral. A representative from the restaurant did not even try to deny what happened. She said that everything Karl said was absolutely true.
Going Viral
The Consequences
After the restaurant’s representative learned about what had happened to Karl, it was clear that something had to be done to rectify the situation. What would the consequences be for his mistreatment? What would the restaurant do?”
The Consequences
The Discrimination
The public’s response was heavily in Karl’s favor. One person said that that her should have sued the restaurant for $150,000, which was the amount a gay couple was awarded by an Oregon bakery that refused to make them a wedding cake.
The Discrimination
Saving Face
The people in charge of the situation at the restaurant tried to reach out to Karl but were not able to speak to him as of now. Regardless, the restaurant promised to look into exactly what happened and to make the appropriate next steps to help rectify the situation.
Saving Face
The Outrage
Many people who heard this story were absolutely outraged. They were furious to hear about how the restaurant had treated Karl and believed that it could be considered a breach of customer rights. It seemed like everyone was on Karl’s side and they agreed that Karl had been a victim of discrimination.
The Outrage
Already Done
Representative Pete Feltham at the Alexandria Police Union praised the restaurant’s quick apology. However, the damage had already been done, as people were furious with the establishment. Feltham also said that Karl handled the situation very gracefully.
Already Done
No Turning Back
Despite the fact that Feltham praised the restaurant for its swift apology, the public was not so quick to forgive the establishment. Thousands of angry comments were left on the place’s social media pages. Many even said that it would be acceptable to steal from the restaurant. However, Karl made his opinion on the matter very clear.
No Turning Back
Karl’s Stance
Karl’s response was that he was never a fan of “cancel culture.” Additionally, he said he absolutely does not condone or support any criminal activity in response to what had happened to him. He also was against boycotting the establishment, and felt that taking the high road was the best course of action.
Karl’s Stance
Facing the Backlash
Facing a huge amount of criticism from the public, the restaurant decided to make an official announcement. The statement said that the staff’s opinions and actions were absolutely inexcusable and did not reflect the restaurant’s beliefs.
Facing The Backlash
The Dismissal
The announcement also shared that the two employees involved in the situation had acted in an inexcusable manner and were terminated from their positions. The restaurant made sure to emphasize that they respect law enforcement and cherishes the relationship the establishment has with the Alexandria Police Department.
The Dismissal
Going the Extra Mile
The restaurant’s night manager decided to track Karl down and offer him a proper apology for what had happened to him. Mayor of Alexandria Allison Silberberg heard about this and made sure to let everyone know that she appreciated the apology made to Karl.
Going The Extra Mile
Reaction from the Police Department
The police chief shared that he was very angry when he first heard about what happened. It was shocking to hear that an officer was refused service like that. He shared that it was quite challenging to hear about especially considering that the relationship between the police department and the community was usually quite good.
Reaction From The Police Department
Being a Police Officer
The main issue was the fact that the restaurant was only concerned about what happened when they realized that a police officer had been mistreated. Without his uniform, Karl was treated horribly and without any respect.
Being A Police Officer
What Would Have Happened?
It begs the question: what would have happened if a regular citizen had faced this kind of discrimination? Would the situation have been rectified in the same way? If he was a non-police officer and just a regular black man, would he have faced a similar situation?
What Would Have Happened
The Result
Karl was able to use his power as an officer to rectify the situation and make sure the restaurant faced consequences for discriminating against a customer. The fact of the matter, this kind of behavior will not go away quickly, so it’s important to show that there are consequences.
The Result
In the End
At the end of the day, everyone who witnessed what had happened to Karl that day in the restaurant had stayed silent. Nobody tried to help him and nobody tried to rectify the situation. It was only after it was known that he was a police officer that any apology was made.
In The End
Not Enough
Of course, police officer deserve respect, however so do ordinary citizens who are not in positions of authority. Treating Karl poorly because he seemed like “just another person” was absolutely not okay.
Not Enough
A Change is Going to Come
There’s still a long way to go for society to eradicate discrimination. Hopefully, with time and with more sympathy and consideration, we can reach a point where discrimination is eliminated altogether, or at least reduced to a much smaller problem than what it is today.
A Change Is Going To Come
Not The Only Time
Sadly, this is not the only incident involving a restaurant employee refusing to work with a customer. Sometimes, servers find it difficult to hold back their true feelings, and this is especially the case when politics are involved. Despite the fact that they’re meant to follow the “customer is always right” concept, that’s not always the case.
Not The Only Time
Another Incident
Time time, the incident took place in Roxboro Carolina, at a restaurant called Cook Out. An army veteran and a vet police officer went to this establishment and had quite the negative experience there.
Another Incident
What Happened To Him
The officer went into Cook Out, which is a chain restaurant, without any clue of what was going to happen next. Of course, people who don’t cause any issues shouldn’t be faced with aggression, but this story goes a little bit differently.
What Happened To Him
Refused Service
The officer wanted to order some food, which is of course a very reasonable thing given the fact that he was at a restaurant. However, he was refused, as the cashier did not want to serve him. What was happening?
Refused Service
What’s Fair Is Fair
In the U.S., everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Freedom of speech allows anyone in America to say whatever they want, within reason. However, this does not necessarily apply to refusing someone a service because you disagree with them. Unless they are causing problems, have personally wronged you, or broken the law, they should be provided with the service.
What’s Fair Is Fair
The Chief Weighs In
While speaking to ABC Raleigh-Durham station WTVD, Roxboro Police Chief David Hess said: “We’re saddened that an employee denied service to a police officer. We promote unity. The public here knows that. And, unfortunately, this incident has created a divide but it is only because of a small action that could have been avoided.”
The Chief Weighs In
What Happened Next?
The story of the cashier refusing to serve the police officer was shared on social media, where it quickly went viral. People admonished the cashier and demanded that Cook Out right this wrong. High level executives then decided to terminate the cashier as well as the restaurant’s manager.
Tyson Gay Daughter Killed
What Did The Police Say?
Chief Hess said: “We did not contact corporate directly asking them to fire this employee. Cook Out took it upon themselves to take action.” Though most people agreed that it was the right move to fire the cashier, the decision to fire the manager divided others.
What Did The Police Say?
The Manager
The manager in question chose to stay anonymous is a mother of four who had actually been working at Cook Out for a decade. She shared that she wished the employee would had called her to handle the situation, as she could have served the officer herself or asked another employee to do so.
The Manager
In Her Words
The former manager said in an interview with WTVD: “If a cashier doesn’t feel comfortable taking somebody else’s order, it’s not wrong for them to ask somebody else do it or contact the manager.”
In Her Words
What Was The Motive?
It was still unclear to many why the cashier had refused to serve the officer at all. She did speak to WTVD in order to share her thoughts and motivation behind the situation.
What Was The Motive?
The Cashier Speaks Out
Speaking with the news reporters, the former cashier said: “[The district manager] told me that I should have went outside and got the officer’s attention and, I guess, offered to take his order.”
The Cashier Speaks Out
Unclear Situation
The former manager also shared that since she was not personally involved in the situation herself, she didn’t think to step in and take the officer’s order instead, as she didn’t realize what was going on.
Unclear Situation
Now What?
The former manager expressed her concerns about her future and the fact that she now needed to find a new place of employment. She said: “I’m mad. I’m pissed. I was hurt. I just got to find something else. I got bills, kids and Christmas is coming up.”
Now What?
No Statement
After the two employees were let go from the restaurant, none of the other Cook Out employees nor the officers have issues a public statement about what happened there.
No Statement
Another Story
A similar thing happened in Alexandria, Virginia, at an establishment called Noodles & Company, located on Duke Street. A police officer wearing his uniform decided to stop by for dinner, but the cook on duty took issue with this.
Another Story
Refusing To Cook
As the officer approached the end of the line, the cook stepped out of the kitchen and walked up to the cashier. He said: “You’re going to have to take me off the line, I ain’t serving that.” The officer decided not to say anything or make a scene, and quietly left.
Refusing To Cook
Taking Matters Seriously
After the incident took place, the Alexandria Police Union and Alexandria’s Police Chief Earl Cook met with the management of Noodles & Company. Cook said: “These are very difficult times right now in our relations with everyone, and to have one of my officers treated in that manner unnecessarily, your first response is anger. Then you calm down a bit and say, let’s just find out what happened.”
Taking Matters Seriously
The Restaurant’s Response
Speaking with News4, Noodles & Company shared that they don’t “tolerate any form of discrimination” and they made sure to reach out to the officer that was refused service. Additionally, the managers have said that it is interviewing the employees involved and “will continue to look into the situation and will take the appropriate actions at the conclusion of this review.”
The Restaurant’s Response
An Anomaly
Officer Cook continued: “I must say we have tremendous support from the Alexandria business community, so this is an anomaly for one of my officers to walk into a business and run into this type of attitude…we believe that our officer’s experience was not representative of the company’s values or policies.”
An Anomaly