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Incident at Triple XXX in West Lafayette, IN Escalates

Posted by Bruce Bilmes and Sue Boyle , November 14, 2008 02:49

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A racially charged incident late Saturday night, November 2nd at the Triple XXX restaurant (Roadfood.com review) in the Purdue U. town of West Lafayette, IN has escalated over the last 12 days.  Here’s what we can piece together from the many news stories that have appeared:

A group of seven African-American customers was asked to wait outside until seating became available.  The customers claim that the restaurant had plenty of available seating, while workers at Triple XXX claim they were almost full.  After these customers were seated, one of them, at some point, was asked by a Triple XXX manager to move down the counter a few seats to accommodate additional customers.  The customer resisted and an argument ensued.  The customers were then asked to leave.  When one of the seven resisted leaving, a Triple XXX security guard stepped in.  A fight broke out and a window was broken.  Racial slurs may or may not have been said.  Police were called in.  Nobody was arrested.  The customers, students at Purdue, felt that their treatment was racially motivated.

A witness to the incident filed a complaint against one of the responding officers.  The department launched an internal probe.  A meeting was hosted by the NAACP and attended by students, area residents, and local elected officials, including the mayor.  The owner of Triple XXX (who was not there at the time of the incident) released a conciliatory statement.  The police report was released, noting that no arrests were made because the Triple XXX employees needlessly aggravated the situation rather than calming it.  There was a rally on the Purdue campus to draw attention to racism.  There is another rally and march to Triple XXX planned for Saturday.  Triple XXX and the NAACP met and came away saying that progress was made.  The owner of Triple XXX apologized to the community for letting it get to this point.

You can follow the story in chronological order, if you wish, with these links:

http://www.purdueexponent.org/index.php/module/Section/section_id/12?module=article&story_id=13544

http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081107/NEWS09/81107020&s=d&page=2#pluckcomments

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-in-dinerfight,0,5164736.story

http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081110/NEWS0501/811100306

http://www.collegeotr.com/purdue_university/purdue_naacp_holds_diversity_forum_to_discuss_recent_racial_conflicts_14439

http://www.purdueexponent.com/index.php/module/Section/section_id/4?module=article&story_id=13583

http://www.purdueexponent.org/index.php/module/Section/section_id/17?module=article&story_id=13607

http://www.jconline.com/article/20081111/NEWS09/81111028

http://www.purdueexponent.org/index.php/module/Section/section_id/12?module=article&story_id=13622

http://www.jconline.com/article/20081113/NEWS0501/811130338

http://www.jconline.com/article/20081113/NEWS0501/81113022

http://www.purdueexponent.com/?module=article&story_id=13661

Categories: Editorial | From The Web | News | Publications

Comments

11/14/2008 1:08:32 PM #

Sounds like much ado about nothing.  These were people LOOKING for a fight clearly.. the restaurant has nothing to apologize for.

Jennifer_4 |

11/14/2008 3:17:02 PM #

Some people come into a situation with a chip on their shoulder.  I just wish people would concentrate on real problems rather than creating new imaginary ones.

Catracks |

11/14/2008 10:20:46 PM #

These people should grow up
Plenty of white people have been kept waiting inexplicably while tables seem to be available. This happens all the time

Are the aggrieved going to sic lawyers on the poor restaurateur?

denn |

11/15/2008 1:28:36 AM #

From the articles, it sounds like both sides made some mistakes and let it get too far.  

billyboy |

11/15/2008 3:33:36 AM #

The restaurant was clearly in the wrong and deserves censure. I am glad the owners wish to resolve the situation and I hope the staff at xxx will show more sensitivity in the future.

Mr Chips |

11/16/2008 2:42:36 PM #

I was under the impression that Roadfood rules stated that no political or social situations are to be discussed on the forum. Does this mean that the Digest is allowing these agendas?

tara |

11/24/2008 11:40:49 PM #

Mr Chips,
wow clearly in the wrong? Were you there? Please give me your reasons for this decision.

Moranimator |

12/5/2008 9:55:25 AM #

I've been to triple x countless times. If it is full the staff always has you wait inside and then when you come inside they ask you to go all the way around and sit next to a person. it is a small place and the staff does not want empty seats in between people. I guess the staff is also racist against white people since my friends and i have been asked to wait outside and also sit next to someone so as not to leave empty seats. The staff at triple x did nothing wrong and the fact that this incident has created such outrage is a joke. For some reason countless people have no problem with triple x's policies, but this group went in and decided that they don't have to obey them. They got exactly what they deserve.

jared |

2/12/2009 2:28:25 AM #

Latest reports from Tippecanoe Co. Department of such things is Triple XXX did not discriminate.

Moranimator |

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