Crown Heights community wants name of bar changed, shut down

The Crown Heights tenant union and other residents want the name of a local bar changed and the business to shut down. The rally was held by community members over Crow Bar, which is located at 820

News 12 Staff

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Sep 24, 2016, 6:23 AM

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Updated 3,015 days ago

The Crown Heights tenant union and other residents want the name of a local bar changed and the business to shut down.

The rally was held by community members over Crow Bar, which is located at 820 Franklin Ave.

Some community members say the name has been used as a derogatory term for African-Americans as far back as the 19th century.

Local historians say Crown Heights was formerly known as Crow Hill, a derogatory reference to the African-American community whose residents were sometimes knows as "crows."

Protestors say they asked bar owner Dan Wilby to change the bar's name, but he has refused.

"I named it Crow Bar because of the history of the neighborhood and it being named Crow Hill," Wilby says. "I have no plans on changing the name. I believe people in the neighborhood love the bar."