Protest By Black And Latino Members Of The LGBTQ Community Ignites Over Racist Comments Made By White Owner Of La Cage Nightclub

The White owner of La Cage Nightclub is accused of not wanting Black and Latinos in its LGBTQ Drag entertainment show venue because it draws an unwanted clientele, a former employee of La Cage exposed in his Facebook account.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

October 6, 2019

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Saturday, Black and Latino members of the LGBTQ community held a protest in front of La Cage Nightclub at the 800 block of S. 2nd Street in the Southside of Milwaukee over allegations of racism by the White owner, George Prentice who targeted Black and Latino Drag entertainers and the crowds of color that the venue attracted. Tommy Franecki, a former employee (manager and show director) of La Cage who was terminated on September 29, 2019 posted on his Facebook account that Prentice became upset after a Drag show at La Cage called "Shade" involved Black and Latino Drag entertainers and the show drew a mix Black and Brown clientele, which Prentice on a recorded conversation indicated, that it brought in clientele it didn't want to attract, "...starting to attract back the people that we got rid off for shows that we were doing with Jesse (Rivera), which had deteriorated to a poor clientele...", according to the recorded conversation by Franecki. Franecki says, some of the comments in a 26 minute recording of the conversation were racist.

Franecki also confirmed that Prentice wasn't to happy, that Shade drew Afro-Americans and Latinos to the show. Also, that Prentice had restricted the type of music venue that DJ's had to play at La Cage, which excluded more than two consecutive songs of hip hop, rap or Black music because it made people angry, according to Franecki who is bi-racial.

Saturday's peaceful protest at La Cage was led and organized by Montell Ross who apparently Prentice alleged brought in the unwanted clientele. Ross and the protesters chanted "George got to go." Ross says that they will continue to protest La Cage and wants people to stop patronizing the nightclub.

La Cage released the following statement, "It has been stated that ownership does not want "People Of Color" in their establishment.  This broad statement is wholly untrue.  What is true, for LaCage and for any business, especially entertainment venues, is there is no tolerance for anyone, regardless of skin tone or heritage, whose behavior is contrary to the best interest of the venue and it's patrons.  We will repeat that for emphasis: "there is no tolerance for anyone, regardless of skin tone or heritage, whose behavior is contrary to the best interest of the venue and it's patrons"."