FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CR

TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1998	(202) 616-2765

				TDD (202) 514-1888




WEST VIRGINIA NIGHTCLUB AGREES NOT TO TURN AWAY AFRICAN


AMERICAN PATRONS, UNDER AGREEMENT WITH JUSTICE DEPARTMENT





	WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A West Virginia nightclub that allegedly
refused to admit African Americans has agreed to implement a new
non-discrimination policy, under an agreement reached today with
the Justice Department.

	Under the agreement, entered today by the U.S. District Court
in Wheeling, West Virginia, Images Nightclub in Kearneysville,
Berkeley County, in West Virginia's eastern panhandle, will no
longer deny admission to African Americans.  Last March, the
Justice Department filed suit alleging the owners and operators of
Images engaged in a practice of turning away African American
customers in violation of Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 
	"No one should be denied access to a restaurant or a 
nightclub simply because of the color of their skin," said Acting
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Bill Lann Lee. "We are
pleased that the club has agreed to open its doors to everyone in
the community." 

	Today's settlement, which will remain in effect for five
years, requires the owners and operators of Images to post signs in
the club announcing that it does not discriminate on the basis of
race and to advertise its non-discrimination policy in local
newspapers.  In addition, club employees will be trained to insure
compliance with the consent decree. 

	The Justice Department's suit had alleged that the club
falsely told African Americans who wanted to enter 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 an African American couple from West
Virginia who allegedly had been denied entry. 

	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.  The West
Virginia couple has filed a private civil suit, which is still
pending.

	"Since at least 1964, it has been illegal to deny public
accommodations to our citizens based solely on their race," said
William D. Wilmoth, the U.S. Attorney in Wheeling.  "Everyone
assumes after 30 years that this sort of thing shouldn't be
happening anymore, and we're glad that Images has agreed to comply
with the law by making the club equally accessible to all."

	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 February, and the La
Poussiere case in February 1996.

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