Officials Call ‘Speak English’ Sign Discriminatory

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Civil Rights Commission has ruled a sign in the window of a southwest Ohio tavern declaring, “For Service, Speak English,” is discriminatory.

The panel said Thursday the Pleasure Inn on U.S. 42 in Mason, northeast of Cincinnati, violated the state civil rights law.

Commission spokeswoman Christia Alou White said the tavern could be ordered to remove the sign, to pay for advertisements about nondiscrimination, and its staff could be ordered to undergo diversity training or cultural sensitivity training.

The business has 10 days to ask the commission to reconsider. The tavern owner’s lawyer declined to comment.

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