Nine women allege discrimination at Chesapeake steakhouse

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) – Two women were seen fighting at a Chesapeake restaurant recently, but nine other women say they were kicked out of the restaurant for what they call an act of discrimination.

Video of the Nov. 6 fisticuffs at the Cork and Bull Chophouse in Chesapeake is circulating on social media, but even though there are only two people in the video, the other nine women are asked to leave.

After things calmed down following the fight, it was the nine women who were reportedly asked to leave. This was a statement they felt was made because of the color of their skin.

It was supposed to be a night of friendship for a group of women, but “turned into a night of pain, shame and pure humiliation,” said local resident Shakoya Holt.

Nine women had chosen to have Friendship Day dinner at Cork and Bull.

“We just had time to order our drinks and a fight broke out between two African-American women that had nothing to do with us,” Holt said.

Two women fighting on the other side of the room left before authorities arrived, but nine women said restaurant staff thought they were getting into a fight and a manager told them to leave.

“I asked him why, and he responded by saying, ‘because you all like to fight,’ and they made us walk out of the restaurant and stand up in front of the other customers in the restaurant,” Holt said.

Ashley Pickens said: “We were all put in a negative light at that moment. Everyone’s eyes were on us, it was so embarrassing.”

Nine women are currently taking legal action. They, along with their attorneys, spoke exclusively with 10 On Your Side.

“Just because you have employees who could make a bad decision in one night and it could turn into two nights, three nights, four nights, this needs to stop,” said attorney Joyvan Malbon-Griffin.

The women say restaurant staff did not reach out to apologize or update.

“Nine of these women were treated more harshly than the two individuals who actually participated in the misdemeanor activity,” Malbon-Griffin said.

His lawyers say they want accountability and justice.

“We can say this is discrimination, we can say this violates the equal protection clause,” Malbon-Griffin said. “They said enough is enough, and we’re not going to accept it.”

“Treat your customers with dignity and respect,” Holt said.

10 On Your Side has reached out to Cork and Bull Chophouse’s owners and general manager for comment, but we have yet to hear back.

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