CHARLES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) — Parents in Charles County say more protests will take place against Cracker Barrel if the restaurant chain does not give them a “formal apology.”
Roughly three dozen people demonstrated in front of the restaurant in Waldorf Sunday, nearly two weeks after employees allegedly denied service to 11 students with disabilities from the Charles County Public School district, along with seven staff members on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
“Hurt more than anything,” said Johnna Penrod, one of the several parents who attended the three-hour protest. Penrod’s seven-year-old daughter, who has autism, was among those at the restaurant that day.
“As angry as I am, these kids’ voices need to be bigger than that anger, and if I decide to take my anger where I want to, I don’t get anything done,” Penrod said.
Cracker Barrel fired the general manager of its restaurant in Waldorf, along with two other employees, earlier in the week after company executives met with parents and representatives from the school district on Monday, Dec. 9, to discuss what happened.
The chain said workers “did not refuse service” to the students but attributed the problem that day to staffing shortages and “poor communication.”
Cracker Barrel also apologized for not living up to its “standards” and “failing to provide these students and teachers with the hospitality for which Cracker Barrel is known.”
Parents told DC News Now they are upset that there has been no formal apology to them.
“Until [Cracker Barrel] apologizes about the discrimination, then it’s not an apology, it’s eye candy. It’s gaslighting,” said Dustin Reed, who organized the protest. Reed said his daughter, who has autism, was denied service that day. “Own up to what it is, and that’s an apology.”
There’s something else parents want from the restaurant chain.
“I think that there needs to be training all across the board from up high all the way down to, you know, everyday employees,” Penrod said.
In a statement, Cracker Barrel said it hopes for an opportunity to serve the affected students and staff.
