#LaughingWhileBlack is a Crime in Napa Valley
My husband and I were just up there in June, though we've never done this train trip. Considering that Napa is still suffering from the effects of the earthquake a year ago, they should be happy they have any business. Part of downtown still looks like a drone hit it.
http://www.wearyourvoicemag.com/laughingwhileblack-is-a-crime-in-napa-valley/
However, things took a sour turn as they were riding towards St. Helena, when the maître d’hotel confronted them about ‘being too loud’ and threatened them off the train. In an article on the Napa Valley Register, Johnson said the maître d’hotel made the decision because ‘people’s faces looked uncomfortable”
“She said people were complaining and I said, ‘Who’s complaining?’ And she said, ‘Well, people’s faces are uncomfortable,’” said Johnson. “At that point, one passenger nearby said, ‘Well, this is not a bar.’ We reacted, ‘Yes, it is a bar, a bar on wheels.'”
<snip>
The women received a full refund of their trip, although it’s unlikely that they will use it after the humiliation and poor treatment they received on their first ride. The crew are still weighing out whether or not they will go forward with a lawsuit or a civil rights complaint.
<snip>
The police left within minutes of the women getting off the train, and they were given a bus shuttle back to Napa. Shortly after the incident, the Napa Velley Wine Train posted their side of the story to social media which they later deleted–there were no accounts of any physical abuse towards any staff or guests.
Lisa, one of the women, was interviewed on the radio this am on my way to work. They even checked YouTube for videos of people on the wine train, and of course, there are several of white people laughing and not being hushed and kicked off. Shame, wine train!
= new reply since forum marked as read
I hope these women are getting a good lawyer. 
Oh and can we please put aside the "economy only" political philosophy?
had an interesting take on this . . .
On facebook - he linked to a slate article: http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/08/24/napa_valley_wine_train_was_a_book_club_kicked_off_of_this_wine_tour_because.html
My favorite Morehouse Undergrad, Harvard MBA and now Pastor put this out there . . .
"Be sure to read the part where older yelp reviews talk about OTHER groups yelling and one even flashing folks on the train. " Apparently none of those OTHER groups were escorted off the train . . ."
So my comments - is this a chi chi poo thing or not? Which is it? Seems the 'spokeswoman' and proprietor (her twitter account is now on lock down) - the grand daughter of the founder of rice-a-roni (definitely NOT chi chi poo) perhaps is taking her little choo choo train too seriously? 
Rowdy v. quiet, elegant?
If I paid for quiet, elegant and got people carrying on -- of any race -- we'd be having problems.
been plenty raucous before and nothing was said.
I read the Yelp reviews after this happened and one person said in 2005 that she was with her cousin and they drank a Lot and stumbled down the stairs to the bathroom and licked their plates.. and no one even glanced at them.
She "finds it sad that in 2015 we're still dealing with racist people." That's how this is being perceived and it would seem the evidence is only mounting.
And, WOW..
"In addition to the Twitter uproar, the Napa Valley Wine Train’s Yelp page was soon bombarded with negative reviews over its treatment of the women. One reviewer, who claimed to be on the same train as the removed party but did not respond immediately to request for comment, posted that “I'd like to think it wasn't a racially motivated act, but given the fact that other, non-black guests were behaving in the same way and not removed, I can only conclude that it was discrimination.”
Reading the older reviews before The Book Club's forced exit..
That's what should have happened.. the ones who complained should have been reseated!
And the UPDATE!
Update, Aug. 24, 2015, 9:30 p.m.: Giaccio has apologized to Johnson and invited her and her friends to return to the train as his personal guests, says public relations representative Sam Singer.
Singer, a self-described crisis communications specialist, also said the company was going to take up Johnson on a suggestion that it does additional sensitivity training.
“The Napa Valley Wine Train is open to anybody of any persuasion, any color, any day of the week,” Singer said. “This incident was out of character with the train company, and is not reflective of the train or Napa Valley whatsoever.”
Yeah, that's the damn problem.. it hasn't happened before. Wonder if the maître d train is fired?
On being invited back as personal guests of Gracccio means they can have as much fun and be as loud as they want to be.. I bet they're scared over there at Napa Wine Train Ride. 
Mahalo for the article, Gen!
Especially that 83 year old. 
that's too bad the officials on the train didn't have any savoir faire on how to handle a situation like this.
That's too damn bad they "looked uncomfortable".. the maître d'hôtel/train and the Napa Valley Wine Train should be utterly ashamed of themselves. That was No Way to treat these Women.
Lisa Renee Johnson will handle this how she thinks is best but I'm rooting to sue their asses for being too stupid to conduct a Wine Train Ride.
I'm so sorry this happened to her and her Book Club.
I'm Glad it's been sucky for the Company's Yelp Reviews.. It is Disgustingly Deplorable!
They're so beautiful.. everyone see their pic?! Of course you have!
"Bouncing Back.. We Got Sunshine!" 
