Club turns away amputee soldier

Doglips · 01-05-2004, 06:48 PM

This club and the doorman need a royal @$$ wooping!

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=...8&u_sid=965001

Published Monday
January 5, 2004

Club turns away amputee soldier

DES MOINES (AP) - A soldier who lost both legs in Iraq was denied entry to a Des Moines-area nightclub last week because the shoes he wore on his prosthetic legs were too casual, the Des Moines Register reported in a copyright story.

Spc. Robert "B.J." Jackson, 22, who lost his legs in an explosion last August, was wearing black suede Nike sneakers.

"They're actually pretty dressy," said his wife, Abby.

She said she and her husband told club employees that "those were the only shoes he can wear with his prosthetic legs," but they still were turned away.

The club Crush, in the Des Moines suburb of Clive, prohibits tennis shoes and hooded sweat shirts, but "we make exceptions for people all the time," said owner Tom Baldwin.

"There's no reason why we would deny entry to someone with prosthetic legs."

The Jacksons said the night out Friday with friends was one of their first since Jackson began learning to walk again in early November.

"I was upset," Robert Jackson said Saturday as he traveled back to San Antonio, where he's receiving medical treatment.

"We all thought they were kidding," his wife said. "He had his cane with him and everything. I don't think he knew how to react to it. . . . He was really upset."

Brandon Beveridge, who with his wife, Stephanie, accompanied the Jacksons that night, said it was insulting.

Jill Fulitano-Avery, administrator of the Iowa Division of Persons with Disabilities, said she has never heard of such a case. If the Jacksons' story is accurate, she said, "it sounds outrageous."

"People with disabilities have the same rights as anyone else," she said.

Fulitano-Avery, who is the mother of a double amputee, said the shoes made for prosthetic legs are hard to find and very expensive. "I would not be surprised at all if he only had one pair."

Baldwin was one of four nightclub owners who in 2002 paid an undisclosed sum to Duane Pack and Michael Ward, two men who challenged the legality of bar dress codes.

The owners of the three nightclubs, two now closed, had to formally apologize to blacks and pledge to treat patrons equally as part of the settlement for the class-action lawsuit brought against them.

An aide to U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said the senator believes the nightclub should apologize for the incident and consider changing its policy.

Contact the Omaha World-Herald newsroom

01-05-2004, 09:50 PM

but I seriously doubt he was wearing his uniform...I'm sure that the owner would have made an exception for him had he been aware of the extenuating curcumstances...and the consequences of his doorman's decision..

SPOCAHP ANAR · 01-06-2004, 06:04 PM

I am no orthopedic expert, but I doubt that those were the only shoes he could wear with the device. The shoes would have to be specially made for that to be the case.

I agree that the owner would have made an exception for him anyway.

PAPA G · 01-06-2004, 06:45 PM

whats the shoes have to do with anything??? was everything else in dress code, must have been.

whirlwind · 01-06-2004, 11:45 PM

im like yall, if he flashed his military id the guy probably would have let him in. dress codes are the rules ya have to live by if ya want to go into certain places. and my feelings on this arent predjudicial (sp?) cause i am a vet and an amputee. and i dang sure know what the dress code is before i go someplace and if for some reason i cant adapt to it i dont go. and although with standard prosthetic devices (for legs) you cant wear anything with a heel...i.e. cowboy boots...you can wear dress shoes and low heels for instance my beloved wolverine work boots. so this guys is either stupid or just trying to start crap to get in the papers. but in no way does the club owner have any responsibility to bend the rules just for him.

Rufus Rhastus J · 01-07-2004, 09:51 AM

But,.....the owner of the club, in my opinion, has the right to let whomevr he wants in and, to keep whom ever he chooses out. i know the law will differ but, how does the gummit have the right to tell me what to do with what is mine? But, they do!:nod:

01-05-2004, 06:48 PM	#1
Doglips Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cocoa Florida Posts: 9,088	Club turns away amputee soldier This club and the doorman need a royal @$$ wooping! http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=...8&u_sid=965001 Published Monday January 5, 2004 Club turns away amputee soldier DES MOINES (AP) - A soldier who lost both legs in Iraq was denied entry to a Des Moines-area nightclub last week because the shoes he wore on his prosthetic legs were too casual, the Des Moines Register reported in a copyright story. Spc. Robert "B.J." Jackson, 22, who lost his legs in an explosion last August, was wearing black suede Nike sneakers. "They're actually pretty dressy," said his wife, Abby. She said she and her husband told club employees that "those were the only shoes he can wear with his prosthetic legs," but they still were turned away. The club Crush, in the Des Moines suburb of Clive, prohibits tennis shoes and hooded sweat shirts, but "we make exceptions for people all the time," said owner Tom Baldwin. "There's no reason why we would deny entry to someone with prosthetic legs." The Jacksons said the night out Friday with friends was one of their first since Jackson began learning to walk again in early November. "I was upset," Robert Jackson said Saturday as he traveled back to San Antonio, where he's receiving medical treatment. "We all thought they were kidding," his wife said. "He had his cane with him and everything. I don't think he knew how to react to it. . . . He was really upset." Brandon Beveridge, who with his wife, Stephanie, accompanied the Jacksons that night, said it was insulting. Jill Fulitano-Avery, administrator of the Iowa Division of Persons with Disabilities, said she has never heard of such a case. If the Jacksons' story is accurate, she said, "it sounds outrageous." "People with disabilities have the same rights as anyone else," she said. Fulitano-Avery, who is the mother of a double amputee, said the shoes made for prosthetic legs are hard to find and very expensive. "I would not be surprised at all if he only had one pair." Baldwin was one of four nightclub owners who in 2002 paid an undisclosed sum to Duane Pack and Michael Ward, two men who challenged the legality of bar dress codes. The owners of the three nightclubs, two now closed, had to formally apologize to blacks and pledge to treat patrons equally as part of the settlement for the class-action lawsuit brought against them. An aide to U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said the senator believes the nightclub should apologize for the incident and consider changing its policy. Contact the Omaha World-Herald newsroom

01-05-2004, 09:50 PM	#2
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	royal Whoopin' is absolutely correct.. but I seriously doubt he was wearing his uniform...I'm sure that the owner would have made an exception for him had he been aware of the extenuating curcumstances...and the consequences of his doorman's decision..

01-06-2004, 06:04 PM	#3
SPOCAHP ANAR Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: SC-upstate Posts: 4,222 Images: 1 Blog Entries: 6	I am no orthopedic expert, but I doubt that those were the only shoes he could wear with the device. The shoes would have to be specially made for that to be the case. I agree that the owner would have made an exception for him anyway. __________________ Spocrest Out!..........

01-06-2004, 11:45 PM	#5
whirlwind Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: oklahoma Posts: 3,751 Images: 1	im like yall, if he flashed his military id the guy probably would have let him in. dress codes are the rules ya have to live by if ya want to go into certain places. and my feelings on this arent predjudicial (sp?) cause i am a vet and an amputee. and i dang sure know what the dress code is before i go someplace and if for some reason i cant adapt to it i dont go. and although with standard prosthetic devices (for legs) you cant wear anything with a heel...i.e. cowboy boots...you can wear dress shoes and low heels for instance my beloved wolverine work boots. so this guys is either stupid or just trying to start crap to get in the papers. but in no way does the club owner have any responsibility to bend the rules just for him. __________________ De oppresso liber !

01-07-2004, 09:51 AM	#6
Rufus Rhastus J Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West, Central Florida, Third World America Posts: 6,339 Images: 1	Yeah, does sorta suck... But,.....the owner of the club, in my opinion, has the right to let whomevr he wants in and, to keep whom ever he chooses out. i know the law will differ but, how does the gummit have the right to tell me what to do with what is mine? But, they do!:nod: __________________ "They cannot be trusted.....The Romulans (our politicos) are without honor." Worf

01-06-2004, 06:45 PM	#4
PAPA G Guest Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: somerset, kentucky Posts: 11	whats the shoes have to do with anything??? was everything else in dress code, must have been.