Man claims bar kicked him out for wearing a cross necklace that they called a ‘gang sign’

A Columbus, Ohio man claims that he was kicked out of a bar because he was wearing a necklace with a small Christian cross.

Jeff Russell told WBNS 10TV that he walked into the Park Street location of Bar Louie and, "As soon as I walked in, someone came up to me and said, ‘You tuck this (necklace) in or you got to go.’” Russell told the station that he thought that it was a joke, so he continued on his way, out to the bar’s patio. That’s when the situation escalated. He was approached by the manager and a police officer. Mr. Russell recounted, "He said that unfortunately there had been some shootings and troubles in other bars and they view any type of, apparently Christian cross necklace as a gang sign, and that if I didn't tuck it in I had to leave.” For reasons that are unclear, the customer refused to tuck in his necklace, so he was forced to leave.

According to the station, a manager at Bar Louie told them that “restaurant policy dictates that excessive jewelry be tucked in.” They were referred to the Fortney Company, Bar Louie’s parent company, when they asked if the bar viewed a cross necklace as a gang symbol, but their calls were not returned.

“There was never mention that this was excessive jewelry,” Russell said, worried that crosses are being banned. “I was specifically told that it was viewed as a gang sign and you either tuck it in or you leave. If this is a gang sign, then I'm proud to be a part of it and this is just beyond ridiculous."

Video and more info: WBNS