A coalition of social justice organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky (ACLU-KY), Fairness Campaign, and Louisville Showing Up for Racial Justice (LSURJ) today call on the Cordish Companies to acknowledge past racial profiling at 4th Street Live!, as one step toward healing and moving community relations forward.
The groups, known collectively as the Coalition Concerned About Cordish, have met quarterly with 4th Street Live! management and Cordish Companies officials since January 2013. Those discussions brought about critical changes to 4th Street Live!’s dress code, policies for dress code enforcement, and enhanced diversity training for 4th Street Live! staff and contractors. Recently, these quarterly discussions have reached an impasse. The Coalition Concerned About Cordish is now asking 4th Street Live!, and officials with the Cordish Companies, to consider acting on the following points of emphasis, previously presented in quarterly meeting conversations:
- Statement of Acknowledgement of Racial Profiling at 4th Street Live!-Despite lawsuits, complaints, and story sharing from an untold number of African Americans who have been the victims of racial profiling at 4th Street Live! over the years, Cordish officials still refuse to acknowledge, publicly or privately, the validity of a single one of these experiences. The Coalition Concerned About Cordish believes acknowledging the pain these experiences have caused to individuals, and the broader community, is the first step in moving forward.
- End Use of Dress Codes at 4th Street Live!-Cordish officials implemented changes to dress code policy and enforcement in early 2013. However, continued incidents involving dress code enforcement, most recently Shelton McElroy’s arrest in October 2014, reveal dress codes can still be used as a tool of discrimination. The Coalition Concerned About Cordish believes ending the use of dress codes at 4th Street Live! would help all members of the community feel more welcome at the venue.
- Use Power as the Landlord to Compel Tenants to Adhere to Stated Company Standards- The Cordish Companies have insisted they do not discriminate. We continue to ask officials to make sure these stated company values be added to tenant leases. If a tenant is found to be discriminating on the basis of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other factor, that tenant should be found in violation of the lease and the contract terminated. While the Cordish Companies have made policy changes at 4th Street Live!, problems persist. The Coalition Concerned About Cordish believes this powerful step will show the Cordish Companies are truly aligned with the values of this community.
“The work we’ve accomplished over nearly three years with 4th Street Live! and Cordish Companies has been important and valuable, but it’s not enough,” stated Carla Wallace of LSURJ. “We are very troubled to see local businesses in the Bardstown Road/Baxter Avenue area talking about picking up the dress code model Cordish Companies brought to town, to further divide our community across racial lines when we need to be coming together,” Wallace added.
The Coalition Concerned About Cordish will continue to keep the lines of communication with 4th Street Live! and Cordish Companies officials open. However, the coalition does not plan to schedule another quarterly meeting, unless the agenda is focused solely on the plan for addressing the points of emphasis outlined herein.
The Coalition Concerned About Cordish continues to look toward the Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission to hold 4th Street Live! and the Cordish Companies accountable. Any and everyone who feels they’ve been unfairly treated based on their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, disability, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity should file a complaint with the Human Relations Commission. The Commission’s complaint form is online, or for more information you can call (502) 574-3631.