Boston Nightclub Apologizes For Alleged Discrimination

Three months after a Boston nightclub was alleged to have engaged in racial discrimination by shutting down a private party for black Harvard and Yale graduate students and alumni, Cure Lounge has agreed to settle the complaint by paying a $30,000 fine, issuing a public apology, and sending its staff to anti-discrimination training.

According to the results of an investigation released Friday, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office found that the club unfairly discriminated against the students and alumni by shutting down the party on grounds associated with racial discrimination.

On Nov. 20 last year, Cure Lounge’s management closed a private party attended by black Harvard and Yale graduate students because they were afraid the group would “attract the wrong crowd” and that they had seen “local gang-bangers” outside the club.

At the time, George Regan, a spokesperson for the club, said that Cure did not discriminate unfairly against its patrons. He said that the party was shut down out of a concern for safety and because event promoters had allegedly violated their contract with the club.

But the results of the investigation released Friday indicated that the disputed closing had indeed been fueled by racial discrimination.

“Massachusetts businesses cannot refuse to host events because of racial reasons,” Massachusetts Attorney General Martha M. Coakley said in a statement. “In this case, club staff made harmful and ill-conceived conclusions based on the simple fact that most of the guests were black. This type of behavior is the essence of racial stereotyping and it is a reminder that, despite the many strides we have taken, there is still progress to be made.”

Harvard Law Professor Charles J. Ogletree Jr., who studies race and criminal justice, wrote in an e-mail that the decision by the club to settle with the Attorney General’s Office “is an appropriate ending to a tragic event.”

“Now it is time to move forward and focus on rebuilding a community of trust and respect,” Ogletree added.

In a statement on their website, the club apologized for the incident and said that “Cure Lounge does not tolerate racism.” The club added that it will “do everything in its power to ensure that the events of November 20 will not be repeated again.”

Cure also apologized for statements made by the public relations group that represented the club at the time of the incident. Regan, the club spokesperson, told The Crimson in December that he was “tired of dealing with the matter,” accused the event promoters of having an agenda, and told The Boston Globe that there were individuals in line known to police as “bad people” who “probably couldn’t spell the word ‘Harvard.’”

In addition to the fine and a public apology, Cure Lounge staffers have been ordered to attend anti-discrimination workshops.

A majority of the proceeds from the fine will be distributed to organizations that help black students seek higher education opportunities.

Amie Breton, the deputy press secretary of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, said that her office hoped this case would be the last of its kind.

“We are hopeful that lessons will be learned from this and that there won’t be any need for us to have to go through anything like this with any of the nightclubs in Boston or Massachusetts,” Breton said.

-Staff writer Caroline M. McKay can be reached at carolinemckay@college.harvard.edu.