Parents Protest at Cracker Barrel After Students with Special Needs Were Refused Service: 'Our Kids Matter'

12/16/2024 06:46 PM

"Not everyone knows what kids who have disabilities like this go through," one of the parents at the demonstration said

• A group of special needs students and school staffers were allegedly denied service at a Cracker Barrel in Waldorf, Md., on Dec. 3
• The restaurant company, which has denied that their disabilities were the reason for refusing service, fired the location's general manager and two employees in response
• Dozens of protesters, including parents whose students were allegedly discriminated against during the visit, demonstrated outside of the restaurant's Waldorf location on Dec. 16

A group of protesters numbering in the dozens staged a demonstration outside of a Cracker Barrel in Waldorf, Md., after the restaurant was accused of refusing service to special needs students in early December.

"We're protesting, not only for the 11 children that Cracker Barrel discriminated against, but for all kids or humans that are disabled or have special needs," Dustin Reed, a protester and parent whose 7-year-old daughter, Madelynn, was one of the students who were allegedly discriminated against, told CBS affiliate WUSA at the Sunday, Dec. 15 event.

The incident allegedly took place on Tuesday, Dec. 3, when 11 students and seven staff members visited the Cracker Barrel in Waldorf, read a Dec. 5 statement from Superintendent of Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Maria V. Navarro. The visit, according to the superintendent, was part of a community-based instruction (CBI) that allows students to practice generalizing skills.

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"Prior to the Dec. 3 visit," wrote Navarro, "CCPS staff notified the establishment of the planned visit, including how many were in the party, and shared the CBI purpose of the visit. CCPS staff was reportedly told by restaurant staff that no reservations were necessary." 

"Upon arrival," she continued, "the students and staff were declined service and asked to no longer include the restaurant on its CBI list. The group was able to place a carry-out order."

Navarro added that she spoke with the restaurant's district manager about what allegedly happened and why the students and staff were denied service. 

"Our students and staff are our No. 1 priority, and we are disheartened to learn about the alleged treatment they received while participating in an activity designed to educate our students using real-world applications," Navarro wrote. "The alleged treatment of CCPS students and staff at Cracker Barrel is one that no one should experience. However, it is encouraging to learn that the district manager said the business would be willing to work with CCPS to do better."

Following the alleged incident, the restaurant confirmed in a statement later obtained by PEOPLE that a general manager of the Waldorf Cracker Barrel location was fired, along with two other employees.

In a previous statement, the company said that the incident happened "due to our inability to accommodate a party of 18 that arrived when we were facing unexpected staffing issues and had partially closed our second dining room." 

"At Cracker Barrel, we strive to create a welcoming environment and great experience for all of our guests," the company said. "That we disappointed this group of students and teachers during their recent visit is unacceptable to us, and we sincerely apologize."

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Cracker Barrel also added: "Our missteps last week were unfortunate but were unrelated to the students' capabilities. ... Our failure to follow certain operational protocols combined with poor communication on our part then led to misunderstandings and misperceptions."

At the Dec. 15 protest outside of the Waldorf location, demonstrators held up signs that read, "Treat us equally," "Inclusion is a right not a privilege" and "God loves and accepts everyone! Why can't Cracker Barrel?" USA Today reported.  The protesters were also heard chanting, "Treat us equally" and "Our kids matter."

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"It sends a message that we will not tolerate discrimination in Charles County," Dyotha Sweat, Charles County NAACP president, told WUSA about the demonstration. "If we have to continue to do this, we will. This is not a one and done."

Andrew Blumhardt, a protester whose 7-year-old daughter Mary was also one of the students allegedly discriminated against, said his daughter was told by a server to move her electric wheelchair. 

"Not everyone knows what kids who have disabilities like this go through," Blumhardt said, USA Today reported. "Obviously, the staff at Cracker Barrel didn't know."

Reed told NBC affiliate WRC that Cracker Barrel did not apologize for allegedly discriminating against his child and the other students during the Dec. 3 visit. "In the meeting that they had last Monday [Dec. 9] with us parents, they denied discrimination, told us that we're all going to have to agree to disagree and they're sorry that we feel this way," he said. 

When reached by PEOPLE on Monday, Dec. 16, about the protest, a spokesperson for Cracker Barrel said they declined to comment.