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Meters Legend Sues Hotel For Racial Discrimination

10/03/2014
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(Radio.com) Famed Meters guitarist Leo Nocentelli will not likely be staying at the Travelodge at 1707 Market St. in San Francisco anytime soon, and based on his story (via SFGate) of overt racial discrimination and subsequent lawsuit, others will likely follow suit.
The story begins with the Meters Experience, the legendary funk outfit's current incarnation, soundchecking at nearby Brick & Mortar Music Hall when keyboardist Rich Vogel (the only white member of the band) went ahead to check in at the Travelodge.

When the other three members - all African-American - arrived to check in (the promoter had arranged the accommodations in advance), they were asked to pay $100 each as a security deposit, which was not required of Vogel when he'd checked in earlier.

When asked as to why the security deposit was required, it was explained that it was for phone calls, at which point Nocentelli pulled out his iPhone and said to disable the phone in the room. Still, he eventually ponied up the cash deposit.

When the other two band members balked at paying the deposit, they were denied rooms. While the promoter and his wife attempted to rectify the situation, the Travelodge employee allegedly complained to the promoter about sending "these guys" as opposed to "white guys" he would generally book into the hotel.

According to the lawsuit filed on Nocentelli's behalf by Venice attorney Benjamin Schonbrun, when asked why the cash deposit was necessary, the Travelodge employee told the promoter point-blank that "we don't take credit cards from black people." here.

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Copyright Radio.com/CBS Local - Excerpted here with permission.

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