Victory at Everest! Disabled Activist Receives Public Apology for Discrimination

Last Friday, August 8th, on the occasion of his birthday, Aaron Shelbourne - a disabled activist and a member of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) – and supporters went to the Everest Restaurant & Lounge on Queen St. to demand a public apology from management. This was the second time Aaron went to Everest to demand an apology (video from the first action is available here). Over the past three months a powerful on-line campaign gained momentum to boycott the restaurant until they apologize to Aaron. The “Boycott the Everest Restaurant” group on Facebook has 1300 members, and the restaurant’s discriminatory practices are denounced on myriad other websites.

In mid-March Aaron was discriminated against by the restaurant because of his disability while eating there with one of his assistants. Aaron has Cerebral Palsy and uses Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC), which involves using his eyes to communicate and the facilitation of an assistant.

On Friday, Aaron gave Everest restaurant an ultimatum: “apologize publicly and I will celebrate my birthday on the sidewalk outside your restaurant. Refuse to apologize publicly, and we will celebrate my birthday AND protest loud and hard!” Everest got the message and manager Karma Sanchok apologized to Aaron in front of his supporters and members of the media.

“I apologize to you, I’m willing to do that right now in front of everybody,” she said, also offering Aaron a free meal for him and one attendant, which he refused.

“We won!” says Aaron, “I got my apology. Seems like the manager didn't actually get it, didn't really understand what happened. She wanted to say sorry, but she didn't actually get it.” But the fact that she made the apology was sufficient for Aaron. The publicity created by taking this fight to the restaurant has been an important victory of its own, raising awareness of the discrimination experienced by people with disabilities across Toronto, every single day.

“Thanks for all the help from OCAP and Damn20205 and everyone who came out and helped,” says Aaron. “I'll continue fighting ableist fuckers.”

Media from Victory celebration:

Video, pics, write-up

Eye Weekly article

Background:

In mid-March, Aaron Shelbourne - a disability rights activist and a member of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) - went to Everest Restaurant & Lounge with one of his assistants. Mr. Shelbourne has Cerebral Palsy and uses Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC), which involves using his eyes to communicate and thefacilitation of an assistant. They had a meal, and at one point he had to use the washroom. It was not accessible and he nicked the door with his wheelchair going in.

As Mr. Shelbourne and his communication assistant were leaving the restaurant, after paying for their meals, the restaurant manager pulled Mr. Shelbourne's assistant aside and informed her that they were not welcome back. She said that the restaurant was newly renovated and "wheelchairs" aren't welcome because they cause damage.

"I am a person," says Mr. Shelbourne. "The worker at the restaurant didn't even come to tell me all of this herself but went to myassistant instead. I was angry because I am a human being and I have rights."

On March 28th, with the help of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) and DAMN2025, Mr. Shelbourne returned to Everest Restaurant to seek redress, to send a loud message to management, its customers and the public that people who use wheelchairs have rights and this type of treatment is discriminatory and unacceptable! Mr. Shelbourne entered Everest asking to speak with restaurant manager Karma Sanchok

who had previously told him they don't serve people in wheelchairs.

Mr. Shelbourne sought a public apology from Ms. Sanchok and the restaurant, and a promise that this kind of blatant discrimination would not continue. Ms. Sanchok refused to speak or engage with Aaron in any way, speaking only to his non-wheelchair-using supporters and quickly retreating behind the counter refusing to apologize or speak

directly to Mr. Shelbourne as a fellow human being. Ms. Sanchok proceeded to call the police to forcibly remove Mr. Shelbourne and his supporters from the restaurant.

Contact OCAP: (416) 925-6939 or Damn2025: damn2025@gmail.com for more information and to get involved!