Pittsburgh casino denies racism claims
PITTSBURGH – The head of Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh sent a letter to a black city councilwoman, denying claims of racism she raised after constituents complained to her.
General manager Craig Clark plans to meet with Councilwoman Amanda Green Hawkins next week, but he wrote in a four-page letter that the casino “has zero tolerance for racism of any kind.”
Clark denied that a black motorcycle club’s event was shut down early due to racism, among other claims, explaining the group invited 400 people to a casino bar that has a capacity for only 115 people. The group was given a full refund, too, Clark wrote.
The councilwoman contends other events popular with blacks have been shut down or curtailed, but Clark denied that.
Clark said an anti-violence rally aimed to benefit younger black residents organized by the community group Stop the Violence Pittsburgh was politely turned away because the adults-only casino doesn’t sponsor events that benefit those under 21.
Clark acknowledged that the casino stopped showing televised boxing matches, which Hawkins said are popular with black patrons, at its Drum Bar and Wheelhouse because of problems caused by large crowds and resulting vandalism.
But, Clark wrote, the casino still televises or schedules live matches in the casino’s ballroom and amphitheater when those facilities aren’t booked for other events.
Hawkins complained, in particular, about the discontinuance of a “Casino Royale” night popular with black patrons. Clark said the events weren’t canceled because they drew too many African-Americans; rather, he said, the events were canceled because too few people attended.
William Marshall, who organized the anti-violence and “Casino Royale” nights, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that’s not true, and that the events were “good, peaceful” and “well-attended.”
A disc jockey who no longer works at the casino has also come forward to tell KDKA-TV that he was asked not to play “black” music at a recent 1980s-themed event.
But Clark, in his letter, said the casino books African-American performers and others who appeal to black patrons.
“In booking events, directing third-party DJs and choosing performers, we seek to appeal to our diverse clientele, and race is not a factor,” Clark wrote.