Tuscaloosa leaders, victims speak out against Nick's in the Sticks' viral video

Some of the 11 victims of the July 26 racially charged incident at Nick's in the Sticks, part of which was caught on video that went viral worldwide, spoke Tuesday at the Tuscaloosa City Council meeting.

They sought to both further explain what unfolded, and also to seek clarification on what, if anything, the city can do legally.

More: Nick's restaurant manager apologizes for using racial slur

While council members and Mayor Walt Maddox expressed their disgust, shock and anger at the incident, the short answer is nothing.

Nick's Original Filet House — the formal name of the longtime steakhouse known as "In the Sticks," from the time when there was another Nick's downtown — is just outside city limits, but within the Tuscaloosa Police Department jurisdiction, so it has to receive licensing from the city. But only the state's ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) board can take away a license, Maddox said.

City attorney Scott Holmes clarified that 911 call recordings are not released except under court order. Lisa Young of the Tuscaloosa branch of the NAACP had put in a public records request for a recording of the call made by Nick's owner Carla Hegenbarth on the night of July 26, 2024.

That's when the video was shot, showing Black and white patrons outside confronting Jack Moltz, the manager, and husband of Hegenbarth, who allegedly made a virulently racist comment to patron Hunter Sartain, who had been visiting with Black friends at the restaurant.

More: Nick's in the Sticks viral video discussed at Tuscaloosa City Council meeting

Cassandra Rice identified herself as "one of the 11 victims from the Nick's in the Sticks incident." She'd gone with family to celebrate her sister's birthday. As they were dining, she began to feel unwell, so se went outside, where she spoke to Sartain and his family. Moltz then came out, addressing Sartain. Rice said Moltz said "You condone sitting ... with these (the racial slur beginning with N)?"

"I looked at Hunter's wife," Rice said. " 'Did he just say what I thought he said?' She said 'Yes.' I was shocked."

That's about the point the video picks up, Rice said, showing Sartain making clear his displeasure at Moltz's remarks. Hegenbarth can be seen at the top of the video, going inside saying she's going to call the police. Moltz begins to follow, then returns and sits down with Sartain, where continue their disagreement. Moltz indicates he was misunderstood, but Sartain insists he heard clearly. Other voices can be heard backing up Sartain.

Rice went back inside, furious, told her family what had happened, then went back out again.

Jaibontaye Spates of Moundville then spoke before the council, picking up the narrative. When Hegenbarth said she was calling the police, "We're like 'Fine, we're not doing anything,' " he said.

Spates commended the Tuscaloosa Police Department for responding in a timely manner, and working to de-escalate the situation. The TPD officers responding were all African-American, which Spates said caused Hegenbarth to say "I can't catch a break."

"We were just outdone," Spates said, "and ... that's something that we shouldn't have to experience in today's time."

Later the officers told Spates they were sorry the customers had to experience that, but that there was nothing TPD could do, legally.

"As reprehensible as anything that was said is, there is a First Amendment right to say it," Holmes said.

Cassandra Rice's husband, Ken, also spoke, expressing questions about whether Nick's was in violation of ABC rules.

"My concern is alcohol being consumed by the owner of that business. My concern also is having an underaged kid behind the bar during work hours," he said. Rice added that several others saw the same.

Toronto Wilson, whose son was there to celebrate his 22nd birthday, said he was "very appalled at what happened."

"This has reached not just our community, city, not just our state, it has reached our nation," Wilson said, adding he'd had callers from California and New York asking about it. He also urged the question of how Nick's can retain a liquor license when the owner is behind the bar drinking during working hours. That's when Maddox noted only the ABC board has the legal authority to rescind a liquor license.

More: Online reviews of Nick's in the Sticks pulled after viral video alleging racist language

The incident not only ruined his son's 22nd birthday celebration, "... for him to have seen something like this destroyed him," Wilson said. They left shortly afterward. "I understand it's freedom of speech ... but to use the police as a scare tactic and a weapon? Because why? Because we are of African descent?"

Tristan Falcon also commended the TPD for its professionalism, and thanked the council for allowing them time to speak.

"That night, that was very unprofessional for a business owner to act in that manner. That bothered us truly. I'm still dealing with it mentally, as we speak," he said. "It's out of line. It shouldn't be tolerated … anywhere at any time."

'Fake apology'

Councilor Cassius Lanier said, "I wish it was in the city limits so we could have hands on to do something about that."

He added "I('ve) seen the fake apology," referring to remarks Moltz gave to a TV station. "I feel like he lied.He said he wasn't the owner, whereas if my wife owns something, guess what? I'm the owner, too.

"I'm glad I wasn't there because he'd probably eat those words. This seat would be vacant."

Councilor Matthew Wilson noted he was related to some of the people who were victimized and spoke again on the matter as he had the previous week, saying it was "... uncalled for; at no time should anyone be demeaned or degraded."

Councilor Raevan Howard said she hated that it happened, especially on a celebratory night.

"I hope everyone in the community can learn from this," she said.

Council President Kip Tyner said he could not admire more the people who'd spoken that night, for their restraint and class, how they handled a heated situation.

"You can't fix stupid. You can't fix ignorance, and that's what I saw when I saw that video," Tyner said. "I'd like to commend you ... on what a first-class family you all are."

Maddox said he appreciated hearing the stories, especially " ... when we live in a day and age where so much of who we are and what we've all been through, in the history of this country, from beginning to end, the time seems to be wanting to be erased.

This is not the hometown he represents, or the values he was raised with, Maddox said.

"Your response has met the worst with the best. You have set an example for all of us. I don't know if that finds any comfort, but for me it makes me damn proud to call myself from Tuscaloosa. May God continue to bless you and know that that is not our city.

"I think we are all agree we're going to continue to work as hard as we can, to make sure that is never our city, and do our best to make certain in the future that our children and our grandchildren understand it is our differences, it's our experiences, it's our backgrounds that make us stronger."

Reach Mark Hughes Cobb at mark.cobb@tuscaloosanews.com .

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Tuscaloosa leaders, victims speak out against Nick's in the Sticks' viral video