The Black owners of a downtown Grand Rapids nightclub that closed after two fatal shootings are suing the city for $3 million, alleging racial bias in how police protection is distributed — their second attempt after a federal judge dismissed their first case.
In the 225-page lawsuit filed in October and moved to federal court last month, the owners of Ambiance GR Kitchen & Lounge accuse city officials and the Grand Rapids Police Department of systematically denying security assistance to the nightclub while providing it to white-owned venues.
Ambiance’s owners say the case exposes a pattern of racial bias in how Grand Rapids allocates police protection, and they want the city to overhaul its policies, not just pay damages…