By Peter Biello
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/whqr/local-whqr-741017.mp3
Wilmington, NC –
More than a dozen Marines have complained in recent months that they've been denied entry to bars for being in the military. Some bar owners who refused to be recorded say they are concerned about large groups of Marines, who could get rowdy and fight better than the average civilian . . . but data from the Wilmington Police Department show that during the last year Camp Lejeune Marines have accounted for less than 5-percent of arrests downtown.
On this night Navy Corpsmen Kenny Preudhomme and Chris Burns stand beside their car in downtown Wilmington and spray themselves with cologne. They're dressed in polo shirts and jeans, and blend in with the civilians on the sidewalk. Only their extra-short haircuts flag them as service members . . . and that haircut might be a liability. They've heard about bouncers in Wilmington turning away Marines and sailors. Preudhomme explains.
"If the bouncer's not having a good night and he sees military members, he's going to automatically think we're going to start something, just try to ruin someone's night."
A bouncer can probably fall back on a law that says if you aren't a member of that bar, you can't get in. Most military personnel are in town for one or two nights, and the law says you have to wait three days to become a member. Preudhomme and Burns do not have memberships and they don't know anyone who does to get them in as guests. By law, the best they can hope for is a drink at a restaurant, where memberships are not required. But that's not what they want.
"We're trying to find a bar, we're trying to find a club. We're trying to find something to do, have a good time with."
Downtown bar owners say they don't have policies that discriminate against guys like Preudhomme and Burns. General manager of Club Rox Brian Cardeiro says he's not worried about Marines. Five Marines recently accused his club of denying them entry. He says members of the military are welcome, since all problems with them stopped years ago.
"A few years back there were some issues with large groups of Marines come down here and tearing up the place, like, breaking the stalls and stuff like that, and starting fights. But in the last two years I haven't had any problems."
Sergeant Major Ralph Drake with Marine Corps Installations East at Camp Lejeune fielded many complaints about downtown Wilmington bars. He says the Marines do not cause many problems downtown . . . and when they do, they're held accountable.
"So if someone's out in town and maybe they didn't commit a crime but they said something offensive to someone or was acting in a bad manner that reflected poorly on the Marine Corps in a uniform, we call that individual in and read em the riot act."
Marines who behave poorly can risk staining their service record. Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo says he'd like to see the Marines send military police join the Wilmington Police Department on busy nights downtown.
"It doesn't have to be a whole squad of MPs. But I think one or two would make a big difference, because those Marines that visit the city of Wilmington and want to come down here and enjoy themselves would also know there's a military presence here."
Bar owners say the law that has served as an excuse to discriminate is hurting business. Dan Boyle is with the Association of Bar Owners and Restaurants Downtown. During the busy summer months, Boyle hears three complaints every day from tourists who were turned away because they weren't members.
"And they're like, 'Can't we pay a little extra money to get into the place?' And we're like, 'No, you can't get in there, you've got to get a membership first to come out.' And they're looking at you, like, 'Are you kidding me?'"
The Alcoholic Beverage Commission has the power to change the law. This afternoon's meeting may begin the process of modifying it. The last time the law was changed, the wait for membership dropped from thirty days to three.
For Navy Corpsmen Kenny Preudhomme and Chris Burns, however, the law doesn't seem to matter. The first bar they approach lets them in. They aren't even asked to sign up for a membership. In fact, the only problem they encounter on this night could've happened to anyone, military or civilian: they lose their car keys.
Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please e-mail us, we'd like to hear from you. news@whqr.org.