Mexican Restaurant Defends Racist Shirts As ‘Witty And Comical’

[DonViejo]

By Scott Keyes on Jan 8, 2013 at 11:45 am

On Monday, ThinkProgress reported about a Mexican restaurant in Columbia, South Carolina whose employees wear T-shirts (pictured below) showing a wooden trap with tacos as bait and the caption “HOW TO CATCH AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT”.

Now, Taco Cid issued an equally offensive response on its website, flagged by the Palmetto Public Record. The eatery defended the shirts as “witty and comical,” arguing that “Taco Cid and it’s [sic] employees are not racist.” The restaurant insists that the shirts, which show a pair of tacos under a trap and singles out “ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS,” contain “NO racial nor hate remarks towards any specific ethnic group.”

But it also goes on to articulate a false political argument, claiming that undocumented workers cause everyone to “pay more in taxes in support of their illegal activities.” In 2010 alone, unauthorized immigrants paid $11.2 billion in state and local taxes and pump billions in purchasing power into the economy. This output and spending generates jobs and opportunity.

Taco Cid finished the rambling statement with a plea for those who are offended by its views not to come enjoy their tacos: “If you do not agree with our views on ILLEGAL immigrants, please do not visit our establishment.”
See the full statement below:

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/01/08/1414711/taco-cid-responds/

[Archae]

1. Taco Cid keeps getting bad reviews.

This is just a stunt to gain attention and drum up business.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Here's the pic. I don't see the problem.

Actually, I do. I'm not being serious, it's a problem.

They could have used the same image in a comical way and just said "how to catch a Taco Lover".

But they had to go with "Immigrant" and "Illegal"

[niyad]

3. dear taco cid, not that I needed you to remind me, but, as I do not agree with your views,

or your version of "witty and funny", I will not be giving my custom to your (probably crappy) tacos. I have great mexican restaurants here that do not make fools of themselves.

[Dirty Socialist]

4. Want good Mexican food?

Go to a Mexican restaurant run by Mexicans.

[NYC_SKP]

5. Yes, our shirts are for sale to the public. Call Taco Cid [phone].

OUR SHIRTS ARE FOR

SALE TO THE PUBLIC.



Please call Taco Cid to order.

[phone]

Our t-shirts were created as a witty and comical statement regarding ILLEGAL immigrants. There are NO racial nor hate remarks towards any specific ethnic group.



We serve EVERY individual with the same quality of service, and respect in a friendly and welcoming manner. And employees are NOT forced to wear this shirt (Huffington Post).



Our food is prepared fresh daily and served in the SAME QUALITY and QUANTITY, regardless of your race, religion or political views. We are an equal opportunity employer and will hire anyone who meets our needs and is a legal citizen or legal immigrant. We do not hire illegal immigrants. Our employees pay taxes.



As most tax paying Americans, we do believe ILLEGAL immigrants are burdening the system we support and live under, thereby, causing us to work harder and pay higher taxes to support the illegal activities, which our government has simply chosen to look the other way. Is it "racist" to disagree with those who are not supporting the American system?



We are open Monday through Saturday and closed Sundays — in observance of a day of worship.



If you do not agree with our views on ILLEGAL immigrants, please do not patron our establishment. If you agree with our view on American Equality in citizenship and tax fairness, then show your support and come join us for lunch or dinner.

We look forward to serving you!

What they call “beefy” is what we call GREASY! Taco Cid uses real, fresh ingredients for toppings.

There is a difference here.


• 100% Ground Chuck Beef – Lean USDA ground chuck beef from the local meat market.


• Homemade Shells – We make them fresh – DAILY. We don't open a plastic wrapper!


• 100% Real Cheese & Sour Cream – Immitation is an ugly word!


Yes, our shirts are for sale to the public.

Call Taco Cid [phone]. Or come see us for lunch or dinner.


Open Monday through Saturday. Closed Sundays (observance of a day of worship)

[Sunlei]

6. How very deep south southern of them

[cordelia]

8. It does sound like some of the horrible things I've heard said of immigrants in

Southern California.

I'm sure that's what you must have meant.

[kwassa]

10. Have you? Where in Southern California?

I lived there a long time and didn't hear those things.

[Sunlei]

11. I meant like in the old south some store owners probably had to paint over the 'whites only' signs

Remove the black jokes and images, move on to degrade some other race of humans with jokes and images.

[benld74]

7. Isnt witty and funy what that sorority said about the photo they took of themselves,,,,,

[Lifelong Protester]

9. And here's another snag in their thinking

looks like the back of the guy in the photo is a young guy. And I'm guessing they hire a lot of teen workers.

And so they are passing on their skewed and racist view of the world to minors.

Great.

"Contributing to the delinquency of a minor". Well, maybe not delinquency, but 'inculcating to racists views".