Quiet Protest at Lulu Carpenter's Saturday

The two-hour tabling, protest, and information gathering in front of Lulu Carpenter's went from noon to about 2:10 p.m (See http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/08/21/18618056.php )

Several employees came out and chatted with us, saying that they, at least, hadn't been given any "turn away the homeless" instructions, as two other ex-employees said they'd been told.

Some folks filled out the Potshots and gthe Poor poll (to be posted soon); others accepted our People's Cappucino (compliments of 7-11); still others provided some radio interviews which will be aired on Free Radio next Thursday (6-8 PM).

Officer Winston, predictably enough, arrived to give us a "one-hour" warning that "someone" had complained that we were tabling, and required us to move in an hour. However though we waited an additional half hour for his return, the good officer either thought better of wasting public time and money or perhaps was busy harassing less vocal game elsewhere. Some of Officer Winston's prior hijinx can be found at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/07/31/18613467.php .

Manthri Srinath, the owner, had still not returned phone calls requesting that he clarify his policy--that is to say, whether it was non-discriminatory. Some weeks ago, his business was approached with the Pledge of Non-Discrimination (http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/08/06/18614270.php ) and declined to post it.

More info on Srinath's past anti-homeless passions can be found at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/11/16/18330266.php .

The management did not allow a homeless man to use their bathroom when he requested to do so--as he reported to those gathering information at the table. Nor has Srinath repudiated the City Attorney's "sleep downtown once, go to jail" Injunction against two homeless musicians which his Declaration was used to create (http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2009/07/02/richardson_injunction.pdf ).

No reply yet from Manthri Srinath of Lulu Carpenter's around whether he's instructed staff to turn away homeless people as paying customers. Keep those reports coming in.

Thanks, to Valerie, Coral, Freedom, Rick, and other supportive folks.