NewsWhore
09-22-2006, 04:00 PM
At least five incidents involving racism or class discrimination have occurred at Praia nightclub, which was closed down this week after student Alexandra Nunez was shot to death by one the center's security guards. Clave reports that the press has reported four other incidents since 2003, in which famous and not so famous people claimed to have suffered discrimination by the nightclub. In the first week of December 2003, much debate was generated in the press when Indhira Martinez, the daughter of popular Dominican singer Vickiana, was not allowed into Praia. According to the young lady, who was 28 years old at the time, she was denied access on 29 November when she tried to enter with two friends. One of the security officers warned her, according to the 5 December 2003 edition of El Nacional, that black people were not allowed in the nightclub.
That same week, journalist Pablo MacKinney referred to the case in his column "El bulevar de la vida" and mentioned that something similar had happened a few days earlier to his 24-year-old nephew, a well-dressed engineer and bank employee.
In October 2005, another scandal added to Praia's notoriety, as reported by Clave. Mariany Pimentel Orde, a 23-year-old architecture student was thrown out of the bar allegedly under orders of actor Vin Diesel, according to her statement, for refusing to go back to his hotel with him. This complaint was also reported in the international press. On 12 August, Juan Antonio Bengoa Torres stated that he had been ejected from the nightclub with a group of friends after the son of an unnamed controversial celebrity, who was allegedly inebriated, pushed him and ordered him to be thrown out.
Last Tuesday, the District Attorney closed down the nightclub as an administrative measure upon the request of the Attorney General, a measure that is pending court ratification. Meanwhile, this week Praia's website showed an unusual notice: "No activities are planned for this month."
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#13)
That same week, journalist Pablo MacKinney referred to the case in his column "El bulevar de la vida" and mentioned that something similar had happened a few days earlier to his 24-year-old nephew, a well-dressed engineer and bank employee.
In October 2005, another scandal added to Praia's notoriety, as reported by Clave. Mariany Pimentel Orde, a 23-year-old architecture student was thrown out of the bar allegedly under orders of actor Vin Diesel, according to her statement, for refusing to go back to his hotel with him. This complaint was also reported in the international press. On 12 August, Juan Antonio Bengoa Torres stated that he had been ejected from the nightclub with a group of friends after the son of an unnamed controversial celebrity, who was allegedly inebriated, pushed him and ordered him to be thrown out.
Last Tuesday, the District Attorney closed down the nightclub as an administrative measure upon the request of the Attorney General, a measure that is pending court ratification. Meanwhile, this week Praia's website showed an unusual notice: "No activities are planned for this month."
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#13)