Virginia Beach bar reaches agreement over hair policy

The associated press

February 13, 2008

VIRGINIA BEACH -- The owner of a Virginia Beach nightclub has reached an agreement with the Department of Justice over allegations that he banned patrons who wore dreadlocks, braids, cornrows or twists in their hair.

The consent decree requires Kokoamos Island Bar, Grill and Yacht Club and its owner, Barry Davis, to change its policies and practices to prevent racial discrimination against patrons.

The bar will also be required to start a system for receiving and investigating discrimination complaints and to make sure that employees are acting in a "non-discriminatory" manner.

In September, the Justice Department filed a discrimination lawsuit against Davis after Kim Hines and Myron Evans, who are black and wear dreadlocks, sued Kokoamos, claiming they were denied entry to the bar on separate occasions in the summer of 2006.

The doormen told them anyone with dreadlocks was prohibited inside the club.

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