“Speak English” sign allowed at Philly cheesesteak joint

In a 2-1 vote the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations ruled that a sign at Geno's Steaks encouraging patrons to “speak English” when ordering isn’t discriminatory. The board concluded that the signs- which read “This is America. When ordering ‘speak English’”- do not explicitly deny non-English patrons from ordering food; hence, according to their judgment, the signs aren’t discriminatory.

Critics have claimed that Geno’s owner Joe Vento placed the signs due to concern with the changing face of his neighborhood, not correct grammar:

Critics charged that Vento had put up the signs because an increasing number of Mexicans had moved into the neighborhood around the steak shop.

Vento said that he was disturbed only by "illegals," who were taking jobs from Americans.

Vento acknowledged that his grandparents were Italian immigrants, but said that the family was forced to learn English when they came here.

Since putting the signs up in 2005, Vento has become a cult hero to anti-immigration advocates such as Hazleton, Pennsylvania mayor Lou Barletta. Vento even received a visit last year from then-presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani, whom he called “the right man - he's tough.”

Sources- Associated Press, AFP, philly.com, NPR, The Latin Americanist,

Image- Turkish Press