The Passion Of Joey Vento
We've reported on everyone's favorite English-only crusader, Joey Vento, before. The guy's a bit of a media hog and he just had his day in court, courtesy of the Philadelphia Commission of Human Relations. He's been charged with violating the city's Fair Practices Ordinance because of the "This is America. When ordering, please speak English" sign at his store. Common sense of the day belongs to Stu Bykofsky:
In his designer-print gray T-shirt, the 68-year-old Vento was seated in the kangaroo court. I use that term because the man who signed the discrimination complaint was Commission Chair Rev. James Allen. How would you like to be judged by a commission whose chief made the complaint against you?The commission itself bringing a charge has happened only once before in the last 20 years, said Allen. Why is Vento so special?
Allen signed the complaint because the commission - which enforces laws against discrimination - could find no one to testify being denied service for linguistic impropriety at Geno's, which served 780,000 people last year. Both sides agreed no one has ever been denied service because they no speaka da English.
Geno's actions aren't on trial, it's the wording of the sign, which commission attorney Paul M. Hummer said was (constitutionally protected) political speech when used at a rally, but discriminatory when glued to Geno's window. Because it is near a sign giving management the right to refuse service to anyone, it's an "implied threat," Hummer said. Both signs are near a sign quoting President Teddy Roosevelt as saying to be an American, you must speak English. Is that discriminatory?
As much as we love Stu... It might just be.
Geno's inquisitors show signs of bad judgement [Daily News]
Vento steaks his claim [Daily News]
[Image via Daily News]
