People and groups have gone after this family for years and nothing has changed. In my opinion, just ignore it.

I fully support Mulligan's right to free speech and cold beer. These protesting fools that hurl the accusation of racism seem to be the ones that are the least tolerant of others. I've almost gotten to the point where I pity the misguided fools on the left but I do tolerate them because, after all, this is America, where we still have the right, for now at least, to speak our mind. Fried chicken isn't racist. I eat it once a week. Neither is a watermelon, I had one yesterday. Neither is Curious George. I read the story to my child. The victim/entitlement mentality, encouraged by a political party to seek votes, has down more to keep minorities on the plantation, than any sign ever will.

As long as the community continues to tolerate what is so obviously hatred directed at the President, or bigotry in it's many forms being spewed from their marquee at which ever group they're unhappy with, these poor examples of society will continue to infect Cobb County with their flavor of hate.

The problem, as I see it, isn't as much in that their signage is bigoted and hate-filled, most intelligent people would agree that they are in fact spouting thinly veiled prejudice, but the decent, moral people of Cobb County are simply APATHETIC.

If enough pressure were put on these sisters, or even the father in his day, to take these wretched signs down, or face significant (financial) reprecussions, the signs would come down.

There isn't a business out there today that is opened just to LOSE money!

If there were a significant loss of revenue, that'd show them that Cobb County is NOT full of small minded, hate filled, bigots, racists, sexists, homophobes, what have you.

Unfortunately, what this says to ME is that because they've not been forced to change their tune, or out of business, that there are all those kinds of people in Cobb County who knowingly, willfully, and some even happily, support Mulligan's kind of hatred.

First Amendment?
SURE!
Speak your mind!
Just don't expect that those who disagree won't speak right back!

"Gerald Rose, the leader of the human rights group that planned a press conference at a Marietta bar known for its controversial signs, is now planning a sit-in at the bar on Sept. 22 at 3 p.m."

If they are ordering food and not causing a disruption by interfering with business, then good and more power to them. But if they are causing a disruption on private property and interfering with the operation of the business then I expect the police to eject them and/or jail them.

Seriously! Just give the man his freedom to be what he wants. Have you ever driven through east point? There is some major Anti-white stuff down there, but I respect their opinion. Just let him sell his burgers and beer to the patrons who wish to pay him. If you don't like it don't go.

While I won't deny it is an American's right to protest, I think the "sit-in" was okay in the 70's but not now. It seems to me everyone keeps demanding their right to free speech, but if someone says something you (or your group) don't like then it's racist or hateful or whatever. If you don't agree with what an establishment puts on their sign (on their property) don't frequent that establishment. Just keep walking/driving right on by. It's simple, it's easy and nobody gets hurt!

You guys seem to be missing the bigger picture here.
(Oh and the "HE" you refered to is actually dead and his two daughters run the place now.)
What this means is that even tho they may have the RIGHT to say whatever hatefilled thing comes to mind, it doesn't necessarily mean that the local community agrees.

If, however, the local community does not pressure the owner to change his (public) tune, then, by default, they support Mulligan's bigoted POV.

Making the whole area appear to be, for lack of better terminology, ignorant bigots.

And it also opens the door for others to display a more blatent bigotry because the way has already been paved.

At what point does the community step up and tell a local business that Enough is Enough?

I'd ask you all the imagine that the roles were reversed and it was a man of color who'd been putting up thinly veiled, anti-white rhetoric for the last 20 years.

Tell me then how you'd just "keep driving right on by." I don't see THAT happening.

I agree to Mulligan's right to free speech. If you don't like it, don't go there. You're trying to do the same the the radical Muslims are doing everywhere...destroy them because you don't believe the same as they do. It's YOU people who are the bigots and haters. Just leave other people alone if you don't like what they have to say!!
I am really weary of the reverse discrimination and bigotry that has become the mantra of the Left.

I was very offended when I walked pass the sign on my way to church with my children. To avoid it, I started driving a different route. Because of that sign I could no longer "enjoy" a Sunday morning walk to church. My children did not need to be exposed to that ignorance. No one should be. If the beer and burgers are so good, then that's what should be displayed on the sign! But don't worry, I still wouldn't eat there because the place looks like a hole in the wall anyhow.

Republicans are represented by an elephant and the Dems by a donkey. Not exactly flattering icons.

Oh I'm personally not in total agreement about a sit-in. I prefer not to contribute a dime of my hard earned money to this establishment. What we should do is first of all verify the city codes and make sure they are abiding by all laws. Laws from the sign meeting requirements to the parking lot having the appropriate space available to the kitchen being cleaned properly. We need to continue to display this restaurant as being offensive. If we have to walk the outside day after day, so be it! Last but not least, yet should be first, we must pray. Prayer changes everything.

Yes, the sign is racist & No, I won't be eating there.

Clearly we are out of the loop on this one. I was reading the patch this morning and my husband replies "we have a controversial bar near us?".

There are indeed some establishments in our culture that are breeding grounds for hatred, attempting to use the right of "free speech." In my opinion, this establishment possibly serves as an incubator for hate crimes, and this type of establishment should be boycotted. It's one thing for a business owner to express his religious convictions about traditional marriage, it's another thing for a business to constantly antagonize and say hateful statements about other races that are different from him.

Maybe there should be an attack on the local emabassy...

There are too many thin skinned folks running around looking for politicall correctness in everything. Sure the signs are of bad taste, but not a crime.

Oh get over it! Freedom of speech! If you don't like it don't eat there. I agree with Mark to many thin skin folks looking for something to complain about. If you want to make the world better go volunteer some place, make a difference instead of harrasing this place of business with a sit in.

Until now, I had never heard of Mulligan's. Sounds like a place I would like. Good food, beer, and a gathering of like minded people.
Like minded not in that they are racist, but believers in the fight of free speech. We are in a fight to maintain our first amendment right to free speech, even if it offends a few.
We fight PC, the liberal government, a few religions, and ignorance of the minority .

Thinking back over all the signs I've seen at that place, they are just shy of actually being racists to the point that they could be considered illegal. You sometimes have to think about them before you come up with a meaning behind the sign. It disturbs me that the current sign about fried chicken and collard greens has garnered this much attention. Like I said somewhere else, I read a story recently about some people who got to tour the White House, and they said they smelled what seemed like fried chicken when they were in a certain part of the house. Nothing unusual about people frying chicken. Granted, this bar has a history of controversial signs, but not this one. There are a lot of people who don't like our President, and these people just put their thoughts on a sign. Not much different than posting comments on these stories. And, as soon as we elected a black President, all kinds of people came out of the woodwork. If you said you didn't like him, you were labeled a racist. And the bar has mostly targeted the Hispanic population, probably because of the Hispanic businesses that popped up all around them. Where were all of you when those signs were up?

I think a better use of Rose's time would be to talk to the owners and try to help them understand why what they post is offensive. Let's face it, why would a sit-in work when the people they offend probably don't patronize the place? It would be different if they were trying to physically keep certain people from eating there. That's not the case. Not giving them your business is a protest. A sit-in is a photo op. And it gives the owners undue attention.

We either have "free speech" or we don't. I may agree with your comments or not but I will stand up for your right to make them. Other than screaming "Fire !" in a movie house when there is none. . . I am going to defend your right to free speech. I think trying to control "hate speech" is an attempt taking away that right. Those who want to "control" our rights are just one step away from curtailing them. Your "hate speech" may be my heart felt opinion.

Louis Farakahn, Al Sharpton, Rev. Wright have all deeply offended me. I believe they are as racist as the KKK. But if came to a fight to defend their rights, count me in. During the 60's I marched for the rights of black people now I feel as though I may have to pick my signs back up and march to preserve my own rights as a retired, white male.

Freedom of speech and written word, yes.
BOYCOTT AND USE FREEDOM OF SPEECH TO LET THE BUSINESS AND LARGER ATLANTA COMMUNITY KNOW MANY IN COBB COUNTY FIND IT DEEPLY DISTURBING AND WANT OUR CHILDREN TO GROW UP IN AN INCLUSIVE, WELCOMING COMMUNITY, YES, ALSO.

It always gets me when a group of white folk write on these blogs telling black folk and other people of color that they should or shouldn't do this or be offended, etc, etc. Can't you see how arrogant and ignorant that is when you don't have a clue of their experience in this country, which is still so racist in its judicial system, hiring and promoting system, law enforcement, housing, and on and on. White folk, repeat after me: I am privileged in the U.S.A. and I have no experience of what it is like to be shnned, oppressed, targeted, jailed, killed... simply because of the color of my skin. I can never have that experience and I have no knowledge of it so I should not tell others who have how to act, how to react, what to do or not do...all that I can do is humbly listen and learn. Then, and only then, when I have spent a lot of time, sitting at their feet and learning and listening, and once I am trusted as a true friend and brother, then I can offer my humble advice." (If you are not willing to do the above your opinion is virtually worthless when it comes to racial matters.

Just to clarify - the right to free speech protects you from GOVERNMENT infringement on your right to speak your mind. It does not protect you from your fellow citizens disagreeing with you. The restaurant has the right to put whatever it wants on its sign (within certain legal limits, e.g., no yelling fire in a crowding movie theater) and citizens who disagree with the restaurant's message have the right to protest. Unless the government forces the restaurant to take down the sign, the restaurant's freedom of speech is not being infringed upon.

In addition, for those of us who understand the history of racism in our country, I find it very disingenuous for others to assert that this latest sign is not racist.

After the sit-in and we all liquor up – Lets march down to the library and burn a few books. Don't forget that the women must walk behind the men.

@Observer
You are correct. If the participants of the sit-ins violate the law, they should be arrested. Some people believe deeply enough in what they are doing that they are willing to be arrested. Martin Luther King, Jr. comes to mind.

Observer...by your standard there would never have been a civil rights movement and we would still be stuck with Jim Crow. There is always a place for non-violent, civil disobedience, as demonstrated by Dr. King whose movement never had to fire a shot to bring about great change.

Thank you for correcting me Observer....I quite agree with all that you said (except the reference to "hair shirt" which is misplaced I believe, depending on how you use it). Your technical definition is correct, I believe.
However regarding the difference between stereotyping and racism there is a fine line and we must admit, in this society (and really in the entire world), that most of us, including people of color, have been brainwashed to believe that people of color are inferior to others, or conversely, that people of light skin are superior to those of darker skin. In all such ingrained habits the first step to healing is to come out of denial and admit the habit--we have been habitually believing and practicing that myth of superiority/inferiority for eons and it is not going to change overnight with the end of Jim Crow, advent of Civil Rights, or the election of a "Black" President (who is mixed like most of us). Every discussion then must be framed in that light and until America and Americans comes to grip with that it will continue to slide away from its destiny, though the mere fact of genetics will eventually cure it because we will be a racially mixed society ultimately (and eventually admit it). But intelligent beings don't have to wait for that and can begin to progressively heal the divides by honest and kind dialogue, not by epithets from either side. Our Cobb Coalition is trying to facilitate that process here...feel free to join us.

Mr. Pellegrino: If you are a student of the 60's civil rights movement you will remember the Freedom rider who stepped off the Freedom bus first in Birmingham. The young, white minister was beaten savagely. . . almost to death.
His is not the only case. I and many other white people have earned the right to speak out against the New Racism practiced by left wing minorities who think they, alone, fought against the injustices of the past.

My grandmother came to this county from Ireland and saw signs in New York that were anti Irish. When my Great Grandfather took a job in the Idaho mines . . . Irish Catholics were not allowed to live in the city limits of Wallact, Idaho.

I hate to sound rude but the Civil Rights laws of 60's were enacted years ago. Black politicians, ministers and religous bigots like Farakanh, Sharpton & Jesse Jackson will never allow our country to heal. . . . In 1865 slaves were freed, 1965 laws were passed to further set blacks "free". After almost another 50 years, of listening to many black leaders continually blame white people for their current plight.. . . I really wonder why I even bothered to pick up a sign and carry it in the Civil rights marches in Chicago & Kansas City !

Whatever! I've never eaten there but after all this BS I sure do plan on going there for one of those good hamburgers & support their freedom of speech. Based on the sign that is posted in this article I never thought Obama was a fried chicken, collard green kinda guy. I on the other hand am & I am white and these foods have been a staple in my upbringing.

The right answer to this situation is "That sign is utterly stupid. I will not patronize that place because I don't want my money going to a bunch of racists."

Nothing else. No whining about "freedom of speech." No crying about "why are we so PC?"

Also - it's not a "liberal/conservative" thing. It's a "Racists are stupid/I make excuses for racists" thing.

Do me a favor: if you're making excuses for this nonsense - knock it off. You're embarrassing the rest of us.

On a side note - Kiri is leaving the "Patch" tomorrow. I hope that all of us insane people didn't push her over the edge! Best wishes, Kiri.

Interesting as to how miss Philly refers to others as "those people". But more interesting is to how a lot of people's solution is to just ignore it. Really? When has that ever worked? We can protest crematoriums, landfills, sex toy shops, and even Wal-Mart's being in or built in neighborhoods, but offensive signs should just be ignored? By ignoring a problem you are accepting the behavior. This is America, when have we ever ignored anything anybody else ever did whether it was right or wrong. Personally I think a sit in would bring too much attention to this place that does look like a hole in the wall. I think the best route would be sure they are not in violation of any city codes and to see if the health department can visit them every week.

We will never grow up as a society so long as we refuse to grant others basic human dignity. Little children don't see race; they see individuals. We *teach* them division, fear, prejudice, hatred. Illegal or not, Free Speech or not, signs and speech like what's been put out by Mulligan's encourage people to see others as less than human, of less worth, as a label and a stereotype, not an individual. I see human beings to be judged on their own individual merits, flaws, actions... what do you see? If you can look another person in the eye and judge them, not for themselves, but by stories and labels and what other people did or did not do... how can you look yourself in the eye, in the mirror? My Daddy told me once, "Never do anything that means you can't look yourself in the eye in the mirror of a morning---and if you do such a thing, do your best to make it right, or you'll be ducking mirrors for the rest of your life." I oppose these signs because they belittle and label people, and perpetuate fear, hatred, and scorn. I oppose them because they are *wrong*, and they do a wrong, and they create more wrong in this world.

Very true Stephanie & Callen. Let's view people as human and treat them as equals Those who put down others, especially a whole group, are denying their own humanity and really just don't like or love themselves--classic bullies. How does one stop a bully---first stop their bullying behaviour (tough love, saying "no") and then forgive and love them by teaching them how to love themselves. Why not promote the good things about yourselves, Mulligans, rather than put down others--or is it that you don't see any good in your own race, restaurant, lives, etc
Here is what I advocate as a solution: let's all suggest to Mulligans some good slogans that uplift rather than put down--they can be humorous or whatever. Church signs do it all the time. Or, they can simply promote their special hamburgers. Surely they can find something creative which is positive--if not, let's help them. Here's one: "Bikers Rally to help the homeless veterans--10% of all purchases benefit the veterans." (My father, a life long police officer, always said "you can catch more flies with honey than with sh_t or vinegar.")

And Milo, "my people" are and will always be "human beings". That's right, I consider humans over Americans, whites, blacks, Italians, Irish, Christian, Muslim,etc. And in that belief I am backed up by not only science (genetics prove we are all one race and at the most 55th cousin of each other) , religion (all equal children of one creator), and the founding documents of this country ("All people are created equal"--note, it doesn't say--"All Americans"). So my role and that of human rights advocacy orgs is to be the "great equalizer"--that is, whenever one individual or group gets the notion that they are somehow superior to another, and acts on that belief to put down another, then it is time to "equalize". Now let's apply that to the undocumented immigrants that you and others here like to put down because you think that you are somehow better than they are by inventing these imaginary harms that they are doing or did.

Re: undocumented immigrants and you:
1) they broke only a minor, civil law, not even a criminal law to come or stay here (hmmm, do you break any laws?)
2) your ancestors and mine, were either illegal immigrants to this country, or were considered so by the dominant group of WASPS at the time (italians were called wops or "without papers", and many came here illegally,etc); even worse, people of color were considered less than human in my lifetime. (Hmmm, seems like history repeating itself--when will we learn and grow up?)
3) you, I and everyone writing or reading here conspired to invite the current 12million undocumented immigrants here and looked the other way to provide cheap labor in order to maintain our standard of living (yes, every major corporation and many smaller ones, and every government entity did so, and in a capitialist, democratic society, that means every citizen participated in this however directly or indirectly)--and now, that our economy has tanked, not due to their hard and productive labor, but due to our own excesses, we want to blame and scapegoat them and send them back. (Hmmm, seems like history repeating itself after slavery and JimCrow--when will we learn and grow up?)
I could go on but remember every time you get the urge to think yourself somehow superior to these immigrants, or to anyone else, these words of the Equalizer and repeat after me: "I am no better or worse than anyone else and by uplifting others I uplift myself".

Oh, Milo, there is at least one point I agree with you on, that as Americans under the delusion of "American exceptionalism" that are somehow God's gift to and the savior of the world. Been there, tried that, and screwed it up. We have to first get our own backyard in order and the main task at home is not the economy, although that is certainly a part of it, but to learn to value our true exceptionalism as a nation and that is our cultural and racial diversity as the melting pot or salad bowl of the world. This is a model of unity in diversity and is where we do stand out. In order to do this, I have to begin by looking in the mirror, and us whites, who have an inbred sense of false superiority and privilege, have to learn humility and the willingness to learn from and understand those of other cultures who are now a major part of the American mix. That is what this whole Mulligans' exercise is about and the basis of my comments relating to it--if the Blacks are hurt by what Mulligan's is doing that should be enough for all, especially those who are not Black to respect their feelings and perspective, especially in light of black/white relations in the near past here in Cobb, to ask Mulligans to stop doing it and to help them find ways to promote themselves and their "culture" in a positive way. That can really be the only reasonable response from white people, who have no clue what blacks have and are still going through.