‘It’s discrimination now’: MAGA hat man asked to leave Republica in St Kilda Beach
The patron ordered to remove his MAGA cap at a St Kilda bar has complained to Victoria’s human rights watchdog after he was booted from another venue owned by the same hospitality group while not even wearing the cap.
Victoria
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The man asked to remove his MAGA cap at a St Kilda bar has complained to Victoria’s human rights watchdog after he was evicted from another venue owned by the same hospitality group.
Ange Notta, 45, attended Republica in St Kilda on Sunday with two friends where he was booted from the venue despite not wearing the infamous “Make America Great Again” cap.
Mr Notta says he was instead wearing a LA Lakers cap but asked to leave after being recognised by the venue’s staff.
Republica is owned by Melbourne Hospitality People whose stable of venues includes St Kilda’s Captain Baxter.
That venue came under fire after threatening to kick Mr Notta out if he didn’t remove the distinctive red MAGA cap while visiting the bar on Australia Day.
Mr Notta was told by a staff member he needed to remove the cap because it was “inciting political trouble”.
The popular venue has refused to publicly address the controversy or apologise to Mr Notta.
Unaware that Republica was owned by Melbourne Hospitality People, Mr Notta on Sunday attended the cafe with two friends after a morning at the beach.
Shortly after ordering food, Mr Notta said the venue manager asked him to leave after staff recognised him from media reports and felt uncomfortable with his presence.
“He said ‘my staff are feeling threatened that you’re here and I’m going to have to ask you to leave’,” Mr Notta told the Herald Sun.
“It’s now about me — and not the hat — and that’s where I draw the line. That’s just not fair.
“That was the real nail in the coffin for me.
“They’re obviously being cowards about it.”
Mr Notta said he was “assertive” while speaking to the Republica venue manager but was always respectful and “never raised my voice” during the interaction.
He said he was told he would be refunded $100 he had spent on food, but hasn’t received the funds yet.
Mr Notta has now made a formal complaint to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
“It’s discrimination now. I don’t even have to wear the cap,” he said.
“They need to do better. That’s all it comes down to.”
In Victoria it is against the law to discriminate against a person because they support, or don’t support, a certain political party.
In a statement, a venue spokesperson said Mr Notta was asked to leave Republica to “protect the health and safety of our staff”.
“Since Mr Notta’s inaccurate reports about his experience at Captain Baxter on Australia Day, where he was asked to remove his cap in accordance with the dress code on the day, MHP’s staff have been subjected to third party threats of violence and sexual assault. Mr Notta’s comments in the media and on social media have also caused a number of our staff to be fearful for their safety and wellbeing,” the spokesperson said.
Originally published as ‘It’s discrimination now’: MAGA hat man asked to leave Republica in St Kilda Beach
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