NAACP: Apology to Fort Myers restaurant on unproven 'white supremacy' claim was necessary
The Lee County NAACP said an apology issued to a Fort Myers restaurant alleged to have exhibited white supremacist conditions came because no evidence of that was found.
James X. Muwakkil, head of the local NAACP, said the organization's inquiry did not prove white supremacy and instead found evidence of minor racism involving both sides of a recent incident at First Street Restaurant and Bar in downtown Fort Myers.
"The Lee County NAACP specifically, I, James Muwakkil, apologizes to First Street Restaurant and their innocent staff who may have taken no part in the incident," the apology, issued Thursday, said.
The incident involved aspects surrounding an initially successful "day party" that developed into charges of racism.
Muwakkil said he has not heard from restaurant owner restaurant owner Vasil "Bill" Babamov and doesn't expect to.
"Every man got to do what he got to do," he said. "I did what I had to do. Whether he do what he needs to do, I don't know."
What is needed, Muwakkil said, and what he hopes will happen is a conversation between Babamov and local Black social media influencer Nora Tesa Potts, who was the day party organizer., to resolve things between them because "that's where the issue is."
Babamov, reached Sunday, said he didn't know about talking with Potts and said he didn't want to make further comment.
"I try to stay away from notoriety," he said. "I have no comment on that."
Potts could not be reached for comment.
Muwakkil said the NAACP apology was an effort to defuse things. "I had to," he said.
The NAACP leader also said initial complaints involved the specific incident on March 20 and included claims that only Black people at the restaurant were being told that the restaurant was closed, that only Black people were not being served and that there were things being done such as bathrooms segregated into white-only and Black-only.
"At first, that terrified us," he said. Eventually, he said, none of that was found to be true.
"We were not upset to be proven wrong," Muwakkil said. "When we are proven wrong that means all is well."
The NAACP originally asked the city to revoke the business license of First Street Restaurant after the charge of racism was raised.
Though the apology said there would be a press conference in the near future, Muwakkil said that is no longer the case.
He said the minor racism found involved some people on both sides of the issue, but didn't go into specifics.
More: Racial remark by manager at Fort Myers restaurant, event cancellation, prompts sit-in
The issue started with a well-attended "day party" at First Street on March 13, planned as the first of what was to be an ongoing collaboration between Potts, 49, and Babamov, 79.
"He told me everything went well," Potts said of the March 13 party. "He said he would increase the staff for the next week."
But sometime between the party and the following Wednesday, Potts said, Babamov changed his mind and cancelled the next party.
"He said his staff told him they wouldn't work if (we) were there," Potts said.
But Babamov said the cancellation was more about not having enough staff.
More: Lee Co. FL NAACP talks about meeting with owner of the First Street Restaurant
Potts said she was particularly concerned about a comment that one of the managers made at the event to other staffers.
Babamov, the owner, didn't know it at the time but confirmed later that the manager told other staff members that she had never seen so many Black people in one place.
"(She) wasn't comfortable with it (the crowd of Black people). She wasn't doing very well," he said. "I didn't know (she) said that."
The manager who made the comment has since quit, said Babamov.
It all prompted Potts' next action.
"We decided to do a sit-in," Potts said.
Potts and a handful of friends showed up at the downtown restaurant the morning of March 20, some bringing their own refreshments and simply sitting at inside and outside tables.
Four calls for service were made from a restaurant employee to Fort Myers police and officers eventually appeared,
After speaking with restaurant staff, police asked the sit-in participants to leave. Some said officers indicated that if they didn't leave they would be handcuffed.
The NAACP became involved in the following days, calling on Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson to revoke the restaurant's license and urged a boycott of the eatery.
Anderson said he consulted the city attorney about the request and the city didn't have the authority to do that.
Muwakkil then met with Babamov on March 25 seeking an apology from Babamov. "We came to make peace," he said.
But no such apology was forthcoming. Instead, Muwakkil said, he presented Babamov with the allegations the Lee County NAACP had received, and Babamov promised to review them and apologize for any fact-based problems that arose in a meeting "soon."
The NAACP's apology letter followed a week later.
Muwakkil said he plans to dine at the restaurant sometime in the coming week.
Connect with breaking news reporter Michael Braun: MichaelBraunNP (Facebook), @MichaelBraunNP (Twitter) or mbraun@news-press.com.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Lee NAACP finds no evidence of alleged racism at First Street restaurant
