KALAMAZOO, MI – Protesters lined Howard Street near Western Michigan University’s campus Monday to raise awareness of possible victims of drink tampering at a Kalamazoo bar.
The protesters gathered outside Y Bar & Bistro, 2941 Howard St., Monday, April 19. Beyond bringing awareness to possible victims, organizers hope to force the bar to shut down or at least cause it financial damage amid the allegations that surfaced last week, said co-organizer Kala Culligan said.
“I think they’re closed (Monday) because of this,” said Culligan, a WMU student. “The more we come out here, the longer they’ll stay closed and they’re going to lose a ton of money and that will be great for us because we want to see them shut down.”
The bar’s doors were locked Monday evening, and no one answered the phone. Y Bar is located near WMU’s main campus in the Campus Pointe Mall, at Howard Street and West Michigan Avenue.
About 40 people gathered outside the business, starting at 5 p.m. Monday, after a Tik Tok video went viral last week. A woman speaking in the video said she and her friends tested positive for opiates and tranquilizers the morning after being served drinks at Y Bar.
Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety is investigating the allegations.
Three women have been interviewed by KDPS, according to the police report obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette. One woman said she did not have proof her drink was tampered with but hoped coming forward would inspire others to do the same.
The women reported having two drinks and a shot across four hours, which would not be enough for them to black out the night’s events, they told police. They took over-the-counter drug tests which came back positive, but the police report redacted what kind of drugs.
People gathered Monday evening with signs that read “Stop Y Bar predatory management,” “I stand with the women who were drugged here,” “Close Y Bar” and “You’ll never have the comfort of our silence again.”
Kayla Vincenty-Cole, now a WMU senior, said upperclassmen warned her when she first arrived on campus that Y Bar was not safe, even in groups, she said.
“I am out here because the Y Bar has always been an incredibly unsafe place to be,” Vincenty-Cole said. “Since I have been a freshman people have warned us against going to the Y Bar.”
Thousands have signed an online petition on change.org to bring awareness to the situation.
Related: Alleged drink tampering at Kalamazoo bar prompts thousands to sign online petition
Bailey Crist helped organize Monday’s protest, she said, because no one deserves to have their drink tampered with. Crist said she hopes anyone else who was affected will speak out.
“I want to educate the public,” she said. “I want to help others possibly feel safer that this has happened to that haven’t come forth yet.”
Protesters said they plan to gather outside the business every day this week from 4-6 p.m.
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