'There’s a thing called fear of a black dance floor'

If you've lived in Lawrence lately, you've probably heard about Last Call.

Regulators are considering pulling the downtown club's license, and Last Call supporters aren't happy about it. They say their club is being picked on because of its clientele and association with hip-hop music.

“There’s a thing called fear of a black dance floor,” Topeka disc jockey Vandom Pittman told the director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control division Tuesday. “Anyplace there are more than 10 black people, unless it is a church, there’s fear.”

Lawrence city attorneys call the place a "public safety menace," citing problems with gang activity, drug usage and weapons violations. A decision on whether to renew the license is expected by Dec. 3.

| Sara Shepherd