An Oregon hotel has fired two employees who called police on a black guest for making a phone call in the lobby.
Jermaine Massey of Kent, Washington, was visiting Portland to attend a rap concert. Upon returning to the hotel after the concert, he made a phone call to his mother from a secluded area of the lobby where video shows no one else was present. He was confronted by a hotel security guard — dubbed “Hotel Earl” by the internet — who accused him of “loitering” and declared him a “threat” to other guests, even though Massey told him he was a guest. Massey says the police wouldn’t let him tell his side of the story and escorted him off the property. He got a Lyft ride to another hotel, where he was able to get a room.
After the incident, the hotel apologized and issued the following statement:
“Safety and security of our guests and associates is our top priority at the Doubletree by Hilton Portland. This unfortunate incident is likely the result of a misunderstanding between our hotel and guest. We are sorry that this matter ended the way it did. We are place of public accommodation and do not discriminate against any individuals or groups.”
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