Posted on 05/20/2016 4:58:03 AM PDT by MarvinStinson
When a Spanish-speaking customer spoke Spanish to a Spanish-speaking employee, he was told Leon's doesn't do business in Spanish. He posted his experience to social media and soon the community was rallying around what critics called a racist — and illegal — employee policy.
On Tuesday, Joey Sanchez stepped up to the counter of Leon’s Frozen Custard, a 70-year-old Milwaukee staple, and listened to the customer in front of him place his order in Spanish.
The shop is located on the city’s south side, in a neighborhood with a large Hispanic population. Sanchez thought nothing of it.
Then he heard the server’s response.
“She whispered to him in Spanish, ‘I’m not allowed to speak Spanish to you,’ ” Sanchez told TV station Fox 6 Now.
Sanchez was shocked.
So when it came his turn to order, he, too, used his native tongue.
“I’m not allowed to speak Spanish to you,” Sanchez said the server repeated.
He posted his experience to social media, WISN 12 News reported, and soon the community was rallying around what critics called a racist — and illegal — employee policy. Customers on Twitter used the hashtag #BoycottLeons. And the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) has even called on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to launch a federal investigation into the “English only” rule.
But Leon’s owner Ron Schneider has remained steadfast amid the uproar, staunchly defending the “English only” rule that he told Fox 6 Now has been in place for nearly a decade, noting that his wife and children are Hispanic.
“Hey, c’mon! It is America,” Schneider told the TV station. “We’ve spoken English for a long, long time.”
“We can’t be the United Nations,” Schneider told WISN 12 News. “They got translators. We don’t.”
Leon’s has been family-owned and operated in Milwaukee since 1942. The shop’s custards are made fresh daily. It has been featured in travel guides and magazines and in several TV specials.
Why is the Washington Post trying to promote a petty story from Milwaukee?
Bravo Mr. Schneider.
This is what it will take to bring America back. Only We the People can do it.
Yes, we need Donald J. Trump for sure. But at the end of the day, it is us who will give our return to greatness durability.
Somehow, people from China, Germany, Italy, Egypt, Poland, you name it; can come to this country and learn english. However apparently for inexplicable reasons, it is not possible for spanish speaking people to learn english; thus the requirement for spanish speakers in all stores and spanish writing on all products.
“it is us who will give our return to greatness durability”
thank you
What is the Washington rag getting at? a million dollar fine?
Sounds like another set-up.
My business, my rules.
Good point.
Why is it illegal?
Because it portrays Latinos as victims, whites as racists, and promotes race warfare.
Note that “en Francais” is quite prevalent in the Great Lakes Area also.
Viva Montreal!
Leon’s has been in business for over 70 years. It sits on a prime piece of million dollar business property. There are always lines waiting to order. No inside seating. The owner employees mostly high school students. Several years ago there was a story about a women who worked there for 50 years. Leon’s closes from noon - 3:00pm on Good Friday. For $5.00 you can get the Super Sundae with at least 3 scoops of ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, pecans and a cherry on top. HMmmmmmmmmm!! It’s not a sundae, it’s a meal. I know a girl who was leaving for the air force and her only wish was Leon’s custard. Didn’t mater that it was middle of winter and -17!
Let Joey Sanchez go to Quebec and order his custard in Spanish, and see how far that gets in.
Or go to Germany and try it in Spanish.
Or even in Spain—The Spaniards probably don’t speak Joey’s brand of Spanish.
That Joey had to be told TWICE not to speak in Spanish shows Joey is a moron.
I went to a prep school with a large number of students from Latin America, eastern Asia and the Middle East. While students walking the campus could talk to each other in whatever language they wished, in Bowden Hall (the administration building) it was English only. The reason was simple, you cannot have students insulting teachers and administrators or cussing in Persian, Spanish, Korean or French and not let the people know what is being said.
It is reasonable for a business to have the same rules for its administration section, the ordering counter.
Why is the Washington Post? So they can publish the
following. Seems the owner caved to pressure. Big disappointment??
He is modifying his original stance. Leon’s Frozen
Custard employees are free to speak any language needed
to in order to provide the best possible service to their customers. BUT employees MUST speak American English to
one another (while on the clock).
Very good. I agree.
Stick to your guns. English is spoken in America.Speak it or get out of the country!
How is it racist? Can only Latinos speak Spanish? Are Latinos only capable of speaking Spanish....genetically?
It may or may not be good customer service, but it is *not* racist.
“called on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to launch a federal investigation into the “English only” rule”
... It would be a very, very liberal stretch for the EEO rules to be applied to customers.
English needs to be the official language of the US and all official business, documents, etc., should be required to be English.
That includes ballots.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.