FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1997                           (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888
                                 
      JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SUES WEST VIRGINIA NIGHTCLUB FOR
        ALLEGEDLY CLOSING ITS DOORS TO AFRICAN AMERICANS


     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Justice Department today sued the
owners of a West Virginia nightclub for allegedly refusing to
allow African Americans to enter.

     According to the suit, filed in U.S. District Court in
Wheeling, West Virginia, Images Nightclub in Kearneysville
engaged in a practice of turning away African American customers
in violation of Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.   The
complaint alleged that the club implemented a policy of
discrimination, among other ways, by falsely telling African
Americans who wanted to enter the club that it was private and
open only to members, even though white persons were routinely
admitted without regard to membership.

     The Justice Department became aware of the practice in
April, 1996 after receiving a complaint from a West Virginia
couple.   The Department filed suit after conducting an
investigation which found that the club routinely denies
admission to African American patrons.

     "More than three decades ago, Congress spoke for all decent
Americans by making it illegal to exclude people from places such
as restaurants and nightclubs simply because of the color of
their skin," said Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil
Rights Isabelle Katz Pinzler. "We will continue to make certain
that all Americans are free to exercise their right to visit any
place of public accommodation."    

     Title II prohibits places of public accommodation, including
nightclubs, hotels, restaurants, gas stations, movie theaters,
and other places of entertainment, from discriminating on the
basis of race, color, religion, or national origin.  The law
authorizes the Justice Department to sue owners of such
establishments to prevent them from discriminating in the future.

     Under other federal civil rights statutes, any individual
who may have been turned away from an establishment on the basis
of race can file a private action to seek monetary damages.

     "This case demonstrates the sad fact that even in 1997,
illegal discrimination in our public places continues to plague
our society," said William D. Wilmoth, the U. S. Attorney for the
Northern District of West Virginia.  "We hope that by taking
legal action such as this, we will stop the despicable practice
of denying access to public facilities solely because of the
color of one's skin."

     The Justice Department previously sued two Louisiana
nightclubs -- Evelyn's Lounge in Holly Beach and La Poussiere in
Breaux Bridge -- for discriminating against African Americans by
falsely stating the clubs were private.  The Justice Department
settled the Evelyn's Lounge case last month and the La Poussiere
case in February 1996.

     Today's complaint seeks a court order barring the club's
owners from discriminating in the future and requiring the club
to take affirmative steps to remedy the effects of any past
discrimination.
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