Burmese call on mayor to speak out

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Some in the Fort Wayne Burmese community are calling on Mayor Tom Henry to speak out about a recent discriminatory sign barring them from a local business.

Recently, a sign that read 'For Sanitary Purposes, There Are No Burmese People Allowed' was spotted on a door at the Ricker's laundromat on the corner of Rudisill and Calhoun.

Last week, Ricker's Oil founder, Jay Ricker said an employee was behind the sign and the company had it removed as soon it found out. Ricker also issued an apology and said the company was taking disciplinary action towards the employee.

In response, about a dozen people demonstrated outside the Allen County Courthouse, Sunday, holding signs that read 'Protect Our Rights' and 'We want equal rights'

Among them was North Side High School student Thandar Thet. A Burmese American, Thet said she was scared when she first heard about the sign. "I was very surprised. I didn't understand why this was happened to me in 2010?"

Participants at the demonstration said the employee who posted the sign broke the 1964 civil rights law banning racial segregation. They are upset local government leaders seem to be ignoring the issue. "Why (did) government forget it?" asked Nyan Aung. "I believe Mr. Mayor is a good politician and good person. Why (did) he forget it?"

NewsChannel 15 contacted Mayor Henry's office for a comment, but had not received a response as of 3 p.m. Sunday.

Thet and others say even if local leaders decide to ignore the issue, they will continue to fight for their rights. "Just because we're not the same skin color or we're not the same race, does not mean we don't have the same rights," said Thet.