By Kacie Svoboda
Terry Houska, a waitress at Hill City Café, has alleged Hill City Council president John Johnson made prejudiced comments to her while she was serving him at the restaurant on May 1.
“Mr. Johnson was not happy with the quality of the food and after I offered to have the cooks remake it, I received some very rude and racists comments from Mr. Johnson,” Houska said. “Mr. Johnson loudly commented that the reason why he doesn’t eat out in Hill City is because of all the ‘dirty Indians and foreigners’ who are working in the restaurants.”
According to Houska, it was a slow night, so only Johnson, his companion, Kay Ballinger, and herself were around to hear as Johnson continued his racist comments.
“He said there aren’t racism problems in South Dakota, that all those ‘dirty Indians’ make them up, just like they did about the hockey incident,” Houska said.
Houska is half Oglala Lakota and half White, so comments like these really hit home. She also claimed that Johnson used numerous swear words when addressing her. After the exchange, Houska called her aunt, who is the owner of the business, to come to the café. When her aunt arrived, Houska stated that Johnson then denied calling her a dirty Indian.
When reached for comment about this purported incident, Johnson stated, “I don’t know what it (Houska’s allegation) is about, but I think I’ll be contacting my lawyer to file a defamation suit. That’s not what happened.”
Johnson also asserts he is not prejudiced and in fact has a history of friendship with Native Americans. “I do not believe that I am ‘racist,’ as one of my friends and neighbors for over 20 years is Native American,” he said. “I am more than sure this man and his family will more than verify my attitude toward the Native Americans.”
Available only in the print version of the Hill City Prevailer News. To subscribe, call (605) 574-2538.
Terry Houska, a waitress at Hill City Café, has alleged Hill City Council president John Johnson made prejudiced comments to her while she was serving him at the restaurant on May 1.
“Mr. Johnson was not happy with the quality of the food and after I offered to have the cooks remake it, I received some very rude and racists comments from Mr. Johnson,” Houska said. “Mr. Johnson loudly commented that the reason why he doesn’t eat out in Hill City is because of all the ‘dirty Indians and foreigners’ who are working in the restaurants.”
According to Houska, it was a slow night, so only Johnson, his companion, Kay Ballinger, and herself were around to hear as Johnson continued his racist comments.
“He said there aren’t racism problems in South Dakota, that all those ‘dirty Indians’ make them up, just like they did about the hockey incident,” Houska said.
Houska is half Oglala Lakota and half White, so comments like these really hit home. She also claimed that Johnson used numerous swear words when addressing her. After the exchange, Houska called her aunt, who is the owner of the business, to come to the café. When her aunt arrived, Houska stated that Johnson then denied calling her a dirty Indian.
When reached for comment about this purported incident, Johnson stated, “I don’t know what it (Houska’s allegation) is about, but I think I’ll be contacting my lawyer to file a defamation suit. That’s not what happened.”
Johnson also asserts he is not prejudiced and in fact has a history of friendship with Native Americans. “I do not believe that I am ‘racist,’ as one of my friends and neighbors for over 20 years is Native American,” he said. “I am more than sure this man and his family will more than verify my attitude toward the Native Americans.”
Available only in the print version of the Hill City Prevailer News. To subscribe, call (605) 574-2538.