On Friday (July 10), Kevin Wheeler shared a video to Facebook, saying that he was denied service at a Subway restaurant because he is Black.
According to Wheeler, he was treated poorly while standing in line for a sandwich at a Mendon location. “She said, ‘I don’t help your kind,’” Wheeler said of the white woman who refused to serve him based on his skin color.
In addition to that, the white employee serviced the following guest, who stood behind Wheeler, then proceeded to take a phone order. “It was very tough for me to take in,” he said. “My kind? I’m just a human.”
The next day, Wheeler joined several protesters outside of the restaurant, which was closed at the time. “It’s not just happening elsewhere. It’s happening here in the small town of Mendon,” he said. “People want change. If we stop because it’s not trendy then we’re not doing anything to make the change.”
In a second video shared to Facebook, Wheeler explained that he spoke with the owner of that Subway location on several occasions, including an in-person meeting that took place on Saturday (July 11). He said that the issue is being handled.
“He is taking care of this, I don’t want anybody to think that he is not, I don’t want anything to think that he is sweeping it underneath the rug. He is taking care of it. He assured me that this is not who he is. And I have a strong belief that he isn’t,” Wheeler said in the video regarding his conversation with the owner.
He continued, “What I don’t want people to do is that I don’t want people to threaten or call him. Guys, this isn’t the way, this isn’t the way to do it. You know we need to let him take care of his employee and let him take care of what’s going on. You know, let’s keep this peaceful guys.”