Inspired by a victory-drunk Marion Barry promising to boot “dirty shops” run by Asian-Americans out of his ward in April, H Street bar The Pug has been serving a “Dirty Asian Summer Punch.” Until now.
After Post reporter Mike DeBonis tweeted a picture of the sign advertising the drink, the District’s Office of Human Rights sent bar owner Tony Tomelden a letter calling the sign “racially offensive.” Facing a formal complaint, Tomelden agreed that the sign would be erased.
So what’s on the controversial sign? DeBonis explains:
Drawn on a chalkboard behind the bar was an advertisement for the punch featuring an Asian caricature — bald, with slanted eyes and buck teeth. “No tickee, no punchee,” the sign says.
Oof. Whatever your thoughts on Barry’s comments, that sign’s hard to defend.
Photo by Flickr user Yelp.com used under a Creative Commons license