Baptists walk out, say punch was tainted

After a convention member says he saw a white hotel worker spit into a punch bowl, more than 1,000 black people leave a downtown Tampa hotel.

By LINDA GIBSON

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 9, 2001

TAMPA -- More than 1,000 people attending an annual meeting of the Progressive National Baptist Convention left the downtown Marriott Waterside hotel Wednesday night after a member said he saw a white hotel worker spit into a punch bowl.

The result was a line of black Baptists walking up Franklin Street in tuxedos and ball gowns to the downtown Hyatt Regency, where they gathered to hear the Progressive National Baptist Convention president, Dr. C. Mackey Daniels, tell them he was "angry, disgusted and hungry."

They left behind uneaten salmon and filet mignon as part of the group's 40th anniversary celebration, a star-studded affair attended by actor Danny Glover and singer Melba Moore.

Amid confirming chants of "amen," Daniels told the crowd: "The day is past when we spend our money and you kick us in the behind. We served notice tonight on the city of Tampa, the mayor of Tampa, the Convention Bureau, the elected officials, that we are not second-class."

Convention members began arriving in Tampa last weekend for a weeklong schedule of events. One of the highlights was Wednesday night's dinner at the Marriott Waterside.

About 7 p.m., the convention member said the worker spit into the fruit punch. Told what the convention worker had said, Daniels asked to see the hotel's general manager.

When told the general manager could not be reached, he angrily reached for a microphone and instructed the group to leave.

Bob Stewart, the Marriott Waterside's director of marketing, said he was told that three waiters were involved and one was seen spitting in the punch bowl. All three were sent home, he said, and the punch bowl removed. He said the hotel is investigating.

"We are doing our best to handle the situation to make sure everybody is safe and well," he said.

Daniels would not identify the convention member who said he saw the worker spit into the punch. Convention members were reluctant to talk about it Wednesday night.

Hyatt general manager Thomas Smith declined to comment as he rushed to put out cheese, fruit and chicken wings for the masses.

Comprising 2,000 churches nationwide, the Progressive National Baptist Convention was started in 1961 by several pastors who split from the National Baptist Convention because they disagreed on tenure and executive offices.

The PNBC says it has about 2.5-million members today and outreaches in Africa, the Caribbean and South America.

The convention, which ends Friday, was expected to draw 10,000 people. They are staying at hotels throughout the city, but the Marriott Waterside is the headquarters hotel. Convention members talked Wednesday about whether to move other events scheduled for the Marriott.

Late Wednesday, a police officer and detective were interviewing Daniels. Mayor Dick Greco also arrived. Greco declined to comment.

It's not the first time a group of black visitors has become angry while staying in Tampa.

The Florida Classic, the annual football game between Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman was played in Tampa until disgruntled alumni decided to move it to Orlando in 1997.

Fans and alumni became upset in 1990 over what they saw as unfair reservation and payment requirements at some Tampa hotels. In 1994, alumni again were annoyed when Tampa Bay Center, the mall across the street from what was then Houlihan's Stadium, closed early, preventing fans from entering after the game.

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