FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1995                           (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888


  JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SUES LOUISIANA NIGHTCLUB FOR BANNING BLACKS


     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Justice Department today accused the
owners of a Louisiana nightclub of refusing to admit African
Americans, including an Assistant U.S. Attorney from Chicago
responsible for prosecuting criminal and civil rights cases.
     The civil suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Shreveport,
alleged that the owners of the La Poussiere nightclub in Breaux
Bridge, Louisiana, near Lafayette, violated Title II of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964.  The black prosecutor, Zaldwaynaka (Zee)
Scott, as well as her white colleagues, Helene Greenwald and
Matthew Bettenhausen, also filed a separate suit today.
     "Over three decades ago, Congress spoke for all decent
Americans by making it illegal to exclude people from places like
this because of their skin color," said Assistant Attorney
General for Civil Rights Deval L. Patrick.  "It is startling that
thirty years later this club still hasn't gotten the message."
     The government case follows a complaint filed with the
Justice Department by the three prosecutors last year.  They
contended that on April 16, 1994, the club prohibited them from
entering together because one of them was an African American.  
     The complaint, which sparked a Justice Department
investigation, alleged that the three prosecutors, who had been
attending a conference in New Orleans, visited the Lafayette area
to listen to Cajun music.  When they arrived at La Poussiere, two
of the prosecutors remained in the car as Greenwald walked to the
entrance to see if the club was open.  The person admitting
people to the club said that it was, and that there was a two
dollar cover charge.  When she returned with Scott, a Shreveport
native who is black, the person at the door said they could not
enter because the club was hosting a private party.  
     Greenwald claimed that she then watched as three whites who
were not on the list were allowed to enter.  When Greenwald asked
why they had been turned away, the person at the door allegedly
admitted that it was because Scott was black.  Later that
evening, Bettenhausen returned to the club and was admitted upon
paying the cover charge.
     The Justice Department investigation revealed that the
club's practice of denying blacks entry by claiming they were
hosting a private party occurred on other occasions.
     "Unlawful racial discrimination remains a problem throughout
the country as well as here in Louisiana," said Michael D.
Skinner, U.S. Attorney in Lafayette.  "We hope by taking legal
action such as this we will stop the despicable practice of
denying access to public facilities solely because of the color
of one's skin."
     The relief sought in the suits includes a court order
preventing the club's owners from discriminating in the future as
well as monetary and punitive damages for the three plaintiffs.
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95-206