Episcopal Church Continues boycott of Adam’s Mark following complaints

Leaders of the Episcopal Church are sticking by their decision not to patronize the Adam’s Mark hotel chain, even after the hotel agreed to an $8 million settlement with the U.S. Justice Department over alleged racial discrimination.

Earlier this year church leaders pulled out of a contract with the hotel chain for their upcoming convention in Denver. By breaking the contract, the church is forfeiting more than a million dollars. Church leaders said their conscience would not allow them to stay at a hotel that unfairly treated black patrons.

The St. Louis-based hotel chain agreed March 21 to the settlement after black patrons in Florida said they were charged more than white patrons, given substandard accommodations and not allowed in hotel restaurants. (RNS)