MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The owner of the Flight Restaurant Group is no longer affiliated with the company after racial discrimination allegations began circulating social media last week.
Flight Restaurant Group released a statement Tuesday afternoon saying in part:
“First, Russ Graham is no longer going to be an owner, affiliated with, or an employee in any fashion with any of the restaurants.”
Flight Restaurant Group
The statement goes on to say the company is bringing in a human resources firm to evaluate policies, procedures and standards to ensure the company is taking care of employees.
Flight Restaurant Group will be conducting an investigation to figure if there were any violations that needed to be addressed. The company says a lot of the allegations were made online but they will deal with it directly if they are proven to be true.
Former employees say the company was very selective in who they hired, hiring very few black people and those they did hire worked in the kitchen area.
This statement comes after protesters gathered outside of Flight and Porch and Parlor, which are both under the Flight Restaurant Group umbrella.
During the protest outside of Porch and Parlor in Overton Square, a man was charged for trying to drive through the crowd of protesters. He was charged with reckless driving and endangerment.
WREG has reached out to Graham for comment.
This announcement from Flight owners Tuesday came moments after a Memphis city council committee unanimously voted to urge the Memphis mayor’s office not to renew parking contracts with Flight until these investigations were complete.
Ultimately the members in the committee unanimously signed off on the resolution.
“I’m trying to come off as tactful, as respectful as possible but what I can say is this, an abstention or a no vote, you’re telling me that black lives don’t matter,” said councilman JB Smiley, who proposed the resolution. “You’re telling me that we’re OK with the pain of people that have been subjected to so much. You’re telling me and the people of Memphis that you could care less about their pain and their plight.”
Flight, a high end downtown restaurant, currently pays the city of Memphis for parking, valet and seating areas. Smiley saying voting yes on the resolution he drafted, to not renew contract until Flight’s internal investigations are complete, would send a strong message to the mayor’s office, who has contracting authority.
“All we’re simply asking is the administration to push the pause button,” Smiley said.
Flight, under fire for the last few days after a social media post gained traction alleging racist behavior at the restaurant when it comes to seating customers as well as hiring employees. Several council members said they had received messages claiming similar scenarios too.
In a statement the mayor’s chief communications officer said:
“Without knowing all the facts of the situation, it would be irresponsible to make a decision based solely off a rumor on social media. Sole contracting authority rests with the Mayor per city charter; however, Council is free to make recommendations whenever they feel it prudent.”
Smiley was upset by the statement.
“It’s been repeated, repeated, repeated allegations and everyone is saying the same thing,” he said.
Below: City’s resolution on renewing contracts with Flight