Source: Geri Lavrov / Getty
A Chili’s manager who took a free meal from a Veteran on Veteran’s Day is on administrative leave, according to the restaurant.
Chili’s officials apologized to Army Veteran Ernest Walker for the incident and thanked him for his service, Kelli Valade, Chili’s Grill & Bar President, said in a statement.
“We took swift action and immediately removed our manager from the restaurant,” Valade said. “We are now in the process of working with Mr. Walker on a resolution that promotes trust and healing.”
Walker’s lawyer, Lee Merritt, said during a press conference he met with leaders from Chili’s and the restaurant’s parent company, Brinker International on Monday morning to discuss the incident.
Merritt said the parties are working on the legal aspects of the incident, since the manager “assaulted” his client, though he said Walker does not want to see the manager permanently fired.
“[He’s] not interested in seeing the young man fired; didn’t want to see anyone lose their job,” Merritt said, adding that Walker is not on a “witch hunt.”
The restaurant chain has faced fierce criticism since the incident, with many calling for boycotts of the organization on social media.
Walker captured part of the altercation with the manager in a Facebook video which he posted on Friday afternoon.
According to Walker, he went to Chili’s, which was offering free Veterans Day meals, with his service dog and was waiting for his to-go order when an older white man questioned him about his military service.
“[He] asked me what unit did I serve in the 24th, I said no the 25th. He said he was in World War 2 in Germany and we did not see people like you over there,” Walker wrote. “They would not allow blacks.”
Walker said he just listened to the man and waited for his food.
READ MORE: WKYC.com
Article Courtesy of USA Today and WKYC Channel 3 News Cleveland
Picture Courtesy of Geri Lavrov and Getty Images
