On Thursday evening, June 25, protesters gathered in the intersection of South Third and East Green streets just outside the campus bar, The Red Lion. This group of people met to protest two campus bars, The Red Lion and KAM’s, both owned by Scott Cochrane, for what protesters called racist business practices. 

For the next few hours, the demonstrators marched between the two bars, first from the intersection outside of Red Lion, then to the intersection of South First and East Green streets, right outside of KAM’s.

In the two intersections, protesters gave speeches and specifically referenced instances of racial profiling experienced at the bars. This includes Taliah Ray’s experience with a security guard and bouncer at Red Lion a few weeks back, which incited a recent social media flurry along with this protest.

As The Red Lion was closed for the evening, protesters eventually settled in the street and on the sidewalk directly in front of KAM’s as more demonstrators joined their ranks. 

Potential KAM’s patrons were turned away from the bar by protesters, and others were shouted at as they walked in and out of the establishment. In the midst of the protest, two KAM’s employees seemingly quit their jobs and joined the demonstrators outside the bar.

Among the demands of the protesters are a public apology issued by The Red Lion, the firing of the security guard and bouncer described by Ray, mandatory diversity and ethics training for all employees, and the hiring of additional Black and Latinx employees and staff. 

Until these demands are met, the protesters are calling for a boycott of The Red Lion. A petition for these demands and the boycott can be found here. 

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