TONIGHT, LOCAL EDUCATORS ARE FIGHTING BACK AGAINST CENSORING CURRICULUM.

I AM JOINED BY A HARVARD PROFESSOR LEADING THAT CHARGE.

THEN, LOOK AT THE ALLEGATIONS OF WITHHOLDING TIPS AND ABUSING EMPLOYEES AGAINST CHEF BARBARA LYNCH.

SUE: THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF POLITICAL IRE DIRECTED AT SCHOOL CURRICULUMS, WITH REPUBLICANS THROWING AROUND WORDS LIKE WOKE AND IN BACK CONNECTION.

-- INDOCTRINATION.

FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS HAS PUT THAT IRON INTO ACTION, CHAMPIONING WHAT HAS BEEN KNOWN AT THE DO NOT SAY GAY LOVE, PROHIBITING TEACHERS FROM TALKING TO CHILDREN ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY.

HE HAS ALSO TAKEN AIM AT AN ADVANCED PLACEMENT AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES COURSE, WHICH SHE BLOCKED UNIVERSITIES FROM TEACHING.

>> WE WANT EDUCATION, NOT IN FACT NATION.

SUE: AFTER THAT, THE COLLEGE BOARD, WHICH OVERSEES AP CURRICULUM, STARTED ADJUSTING THE COURSE, SPARKING A BACKLASH OF ITS OWN, INCLUDING FOR MY NEXT GUEST, WHO ARGUES THE GOVERNOR'’S RESPONSE UNDERLINES THE REASON THE UNITED STATES NEEDS AN AP AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDY COURSE TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS.

KHALIL GIBRANI MUHAMMAD, A PROFESSOR OF HISTORY, AND PUBLIC POLICY AT HARVARD'’S KENNEDY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY JOINS ME NOW.

WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR COMING RIGHT FROM YOUR ACTION TO HEAR TO SPREAD THE WORD.

LET'’S GO BACK A LITTLE BIT.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN THE AP COURSES AND THE COLLEGE BOARD, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT, DECIDED THEY WANTED TO MAKE CHANGES TO THESE COURSES BASED ON WHAT THE GOVERNOR WAS ASKING THEM TO DO.

KHALIL: I FELT LIKE IT WAS A BRIDGE TOO FAR.

I'’VE BEEN WATCHING THE PASSAGE OF ANTI-CRT LAWS THAT ESSENTIALLY ESTABLISH AT THE POINT OF EDUCATION THAT STUDENTS SHOULD FEEL GOOD RATHER THAN LEARNING THE ACTUAL HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY WHICH IS BOTH BEAUTIFUL AND UGLY.

WHEN THE COLLEGE BOARD WANTED TO APPEASE BY SEXUALLY STRIKING FROM THE PROPOSED AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES CURRICULUM ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED AFTER 1965 AS BEING POLITICAL OR DEPRESSIVE OR QUEER STUDIES AS GOVERNOR DESANTIS DESCRIBED AS NOT BEING AN EDUCATIONAL SUBJECT AREA, FOR ME WAS AN AREA TO GET INVOLVED.

SUE: HAS THERE BEEN A MOMENT IN HISTORY WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE?

YOU AND I HAVE TALKED BEFORE.

I SHARED WITH YOU THAT WHEN I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE 1970'’S, I DID NOT LEARN ABOUT IDA B WELLS, BUT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH MY KID ABOUT HER.

THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BATTLE ABOUT WHAT KIDS GET TAUGHT.

HAS IT EVER BEEN LIKE THIS?

KHALIL: ON THE ONE HAND, YES, THERE HAVE BEEN FIGHTS ABOUT WHAT AMERICAN CHILDREN LEARN.

TEXAS, 10 YEARS AGO CHANGED A LOT OF ITS CURRICULUM TO REMOVE SOCIAL MOVEMENT IN HISTORY AND TO PUT WHAT THEY CALLED PROPER CONSERVATIVE HISTORY.

IT ALSO SHAPED TEXTBOOKS WHICH DIRECTLY AFFECTED THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE HAD SOME VERSION OF THESE WHEN LYNN CHENEY, DICK CHENEY'’S WIFE, WAS LEADING THIS EFFORT AND DECIDED TO STRIKE AGAIN FROM THE PROPOSED CHANGES THEN TO PROPOSED AMERICAN HISTORY STANDARDS THAT THERE BE MORE RONALD REAGAN AND LESS BOB MOSES, LOCAL BOSTON HERO AND CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS.

WHAT WE ARE FACING NOW THOUGH HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT JUST THE CURRICULUM.

THIS IS ABOUT STATE LEGISLATION AND LAWS THAT PROHIBIT THE MENTION OF, BOOKS ARE BEING PULLED FROM LIBRARIES IN SCHOOLS.

RUBY BRIDGES IS NOT BEING TAUGHT BECAUSE WHITE CHILDREN MIGHT FEEL BAD THAT WHITE PARENTS TRIED TO BLOCK HER FROM INTEGRATING A SCHOOL.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE NEVER SEEN AT THIS LEVEL AND HAS THE IMPACT POTENTIALLY A GOOD GRADE IN HALF -- SECOND GRADE AND HALF THE COUNTRY.

SUE: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS IN THIS.

YOU HAVE A COLLEGE BOARD, THE NONPROFIT THAT MAKES THESE AP COURSES, YOU HAVE THE TEXTBOOK MANUFACTURERS.

YOU HAVE THE EDUCATORS.

WHAT ARE THEY SAYING ABOUT THIS?

I IMAGINE THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS WHERE THEY FEEL THE PUSH AND PULL, BUT FACTS ARE FACTS.

THESE THINGS ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

THEY ARE ON WIKIPEDIA.

[LAUGHTER] KHALIL: WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT AS MONEYMAKING.

THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER PRODUCT THEY PUT IN THE WORLD WILL BE SOLD IN ALL 50 STATES.

THE SAME IS TRUE WITH TEXTBOOKS.

IN A COUNTRY WHERE WHITE SUPREMACY AND WHITE NATIONALISM ARE ON THE RISE AS A POLITICAL MATTER, NOT JUST IN THE BACKWOODS WOODS OF OUR COUNTRY, PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY WINNING OFFICE.

WHEN YOU HAVE A MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS WHERE THOSE KINDS OF RETROGRADE RACIST IDEAS ARE PART OF THE POLITICAL SOUNDSCAPE -- LANDSCAPE OF THIS COUNTRY IT ALSO MEANS PEOPLE LIKE THE COLLEGE BOARD HAVE TO WORRY WHETHER OR NOT THEIR PRODUCTS WILL BE VIABLE IN THOSE PLACES.

THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.

SUE: THE CHALLENGE I RECOGNIZE YES HE IS PARENTS OFTEN DO NOT CARE ABOUT EDUCATION UNTIL THEIR CHILDREN ARE IN THE SYSTEM.

OFTEN THEY DO NOT CARE AFTERWARDS WHEN THEIR KIDS GET OUT.

THE MISINFORMATION ESPECIALLY AROUND CRITICAL RACE THEORY, I HAD A VERY SPIRITED CONVERSATION , WHAT CAN EDUCATORS DO, WHAT CAN REASONABLE THINKING PEOPLE DO TO TRY TO HELP PARENTS WHO ARE VERY BUSY AND HAVE A LOT OF THINGS ON THEIR PLATE UNDERSTAND HOW DANGEROUS THIS CENSORSHIP PAYS TO THEIR CHILDREN AND TO AMERICA.

KHALIL: UNFORTUNATELY, THE SAME TOOL OF ENGAGEMENT, WHICH IS TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION IS THE SAME TOOL WHO MANY PEOPLE ON THE RIGHT HAVE DONE TO SCARE THEM INTO THINKING THIS IS A TERRIBLE THING.

BUT THE SAME RULES APPLY.

PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THESE FORMS OF IDENTITIES NEED OUR ATTENTION TOO.

THEY NEED TO BE EXPOSED TO THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATIONS.

THEY NEED TO BE ORGANIZED IN THE SAME WAY THE RIGHT HAS VERY EFFECTIVELY ORGANIZED PEOPLE TO GO TO SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS.

OR AS I SAW, DIVERSITY MEANS WHITE GENOCIDE.

SUE: YOU ARE A LOT SMARTER THAN I AM.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME HOW SOMEONE WHO TEACHES, A PARENT WHO EDUCATES THEIR CHILD AROUND DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS AROUND RELIGION, LIKE THE CRUCIFIXION NATION -- OF JESUS CHRIST, CAN HAVE SUCH A HARD TIME STILL TEACHING CONCEPTS OF HISTORY, WHICH ARE ALSO DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS.

AND AT THE SAME TIME ACCUSE LIBERALS OF BEING SNOWFLAKES WHEN IT COMES TO PROGRESSIVES WANTING TO TALK ABOUT THE HORRORS OF OUR HISTORY FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST ONE PARTICULAR GROUP.

KHALIL: IT CANNOT BE SQUARED.

JUST LIKE THE IDEA OF PASSING LEGISLATION TO PROHIBIT THE EXPOSURE OF IDEAS IS DONE IN THE NAME OF EDUCATION, NOT INDOCTRINATION.

THAT IS THE CALL SIGN OF THE FLORIDA GOVERNOR.

LET'’S NOT TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT HOW QUEER PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THE WORLD BECAUSE THAT IS NOT EDUCATION, THAT IS INDOCTRINATION, WHICH IS TO SAY LET'’S CLOSE OFF LEARNING AND BE EXPOSED TO IT THE WAY PEOPLE LIVE IN THAT LEGISLATION MIGHT ACTUALLY CUT SHORT THEIR LIVES OR BE SUBJECT TO DISCRIMINATION IS NOT EXPOSING KIDS TO CERTAIN IDEAS IS JUST THE REVERSE.

SUE: HOW CAN AN EDUCATOR FIGHT BACK AGAINST THIS?

I CANNOT IMAGINE TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHY HARVEY MILK HAS A NAVY CARRIER SHIP NAMED AFTER HIM TRYING TO EXPLAIN A NUMBER OF THINGS IN HISTORY WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE'’S SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR GENDER OR THEIR GENDER EXPRESSION IN HISTORY.

OUR TEACHERS REACTING TO THIS LIKE WHY ARE YOU MAKING MY JOB HARDER?

KHALIL: ABSOLUTELY.

I CAN TELL YOU FROM FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE BECAUSE I AM HOPING TO LEAD THE FREEDOM TO LEARN MOVEMENT, WE HAVE TALKED TO THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS LEADERSHIP.

THEY ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO FIGHTING AGAINST THIS ARE -- AND ARE USING EVERY TOOL TO SUPPORT TEACHERS WHO WERE SEVERELY AT RISK OF BEING FIRED OR SPONSORED AND MOST CERTAINLY THREATENED IN THE CLASSROOM.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU SHOULD DO AND THAT IS THE CULTURE OF FEAR THAT IS BEING CREATED.

UNFORTUNATELY, TOO MANY TEACHERS WILL HAVE TO ACCEPT THIS UNTIL WE, THE PUBLIC, HELP THEM.

SUE: YOU HAVE AN EVENT TODAY.

WHAT IS THE PLAN?

KHALIL: TO MOBILIZE PEOPLE IN PLACE LIKE MASSACHUSETTS AND OTHER STATES WHERE THIS IS NOT HAPPENING TO SUPPORT TEACHERS IN OTHER STATES WE HAVE EVIDENCE THAT 16 STATES HAVE PASSED ANTI-TRUTH, ANTI-CRT LAWS.

A LOT OF US WHO MAY ENJOY THE COMFORTS TODAY OF THE FREEDOM TO LEARN MAY NOT TOMORROW.

WE NEED TO TRAVEL TO OTHER PLACES AND SUPPORT PEOPLE IN STANDING UP.

WE HAVE A 2024 ELECTION THAT IS ALSO ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN STATE HOUSES.

THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET AHEAD OF THIS PROBLEM INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR ANOTHER GOVERNOR SOMEWHERE ELSE BANNING OUR ABILITY TO LEARN.

SUE: I APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

NEXT, WHEN TWO FORMER EMPLOYEES OF RESTAURANTEUR BARBARA LYNCH FILED THE LAWSUIT CLAIMING SHE WITHHELD TIPS DURING THE PANDEMIC, IT WAS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

A FLOOD OF ALLEGATIONS HAVE COME IN WITH EMPLOYEES DETAILING YEARS OF HARASSMENT FROM LYNCH.

WHILE THE LAWSUIT OVER THE TIPS CONTINUES, EMPLOYEES AND ALL OF HER RESTAURANTS IN SHE BROKE STATE WAGE LOSS.

THERE ARE ALSO TRYING TO HOLD HER ACCOUNTABLE FOR HER BEHAVIOR ON THE JOB.

I AM JOINED WITH ONE OF THOSE FORMER EMPLOYEES, HILARY YEAW, ALONG WITH HER LAWYER, LOU SABAN .

WE DID INVITE BARBARA LYNCH TO JOIN US.

SHE DECLINED.

HILLARY COME I WANT TO START WITH YOU AROUND THIS TAPE CONVERSATION IN THIS LAWSUIT.

THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS IS A VERY COMPLICATED WORLD WHEN IT COMES TO PAY.

IT IS ALMOST LIKE ITS OWN UNIVERSE.

WHAT IS THE LAWSUIT ALLEGING HAPPENED?

HILARY: WHEN WE STARTED WORKING AGAIN, THAT WE DID NOT GET OUR TIPS.

IN LOU OF RECEIVING OUR TIPS, THEY DECIDED TO PAY US A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY AND THEN ALL OF OUR TIPS WERE TAKEN BY THE RESTAURANT GROUP ITSELF.

WE OURSELVES WERE NOT RECEIVING THE TIPS.

SUE: WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT?

LOU: IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, THERE IS VERY SPECIFIC LAWS.

SOMETIMES THE LAWS SURROUNDING WAGE CAN BE IN AND DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND, BUT THE LAWS VERY CLEAR ON THIS SORT OF THING.

THE TIPS OF WAITSTAFF EMPLOYEES AT THE BARBARA LYNCH PROPERTIES WERE BEING PAID WITH PAYCHECK PROTECTION PLAN FUNDS, BUT HE SEEMS LIKE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEIR PAY STUBS, BUT TIPS WERE NOT GOING TO THE EMPLOYEES AND THE LAW MAKES IT VERY CLEAR.

THEY STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SAY THAT THE TIPS WANT TO BE EMPLOYEES.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE LOOKING INTO.

WHERE THOSE TIPS WANT AND THE PURPOSE OF THE LAWSUIT IS TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THE TIPS GO TO THE STAFF.

SUE: WE HAVE A STATEMENT FROM BARBARA LYNCH.

THEY SAY EVERY EMPLOYEE WAS PAID 100% OF THE PRIOR YEAR EARNINGS AND THE PLAINTIFFS EARNED OVER $40 PER HOUR.

AND THAT THROUGHOUT THE SHUTDOWN THE COMPANY MAINTAIN CONTINUOUS BENEFITS AND DID NOT COLLECT ANY PREMIUMS FROM EMPLOYEES.

IS THAT TRUE?

HILARY: THAT PART IS TRUE, BUT ONCE AGAIN, THERE IS A REASON WHY THEY HAVE THESE LAWS IN PLACE.

IT IS BECAUSE IF YOU ALLOW THE TIPS TO GO THROUGH THE MANAGEMENT AND THEY ARE ABLE TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH THEM, TECHNICALLY THAT MONEY IS NOT YOURS.

THAT IS WHY THE LAWS ARE IN PLACE.

SO ONCE AGAIN YOU CAN JUSTIFY ON YOUR SIDE OF THINGS HOW IT IS YOU WANTED THINGS TO BE SPENT, BUT IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT YOU TOOK OUR TIPS.

THOSE WERE SPENT IN DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE COULD HAVE PERSONALLY SPENT THEM.

SUE: WAS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS BEFORE THE LAWSUIT WAS FILED?

HILARY: AT THAT POINT IN TIME, IT DID NOT LOOK LIKE THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY WAS GOING TO MAKE IT.

I THINK EVERYBODY WAS GRATEFUL TO SEE THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY ON THE HORIZON, SO YES, IT WAS DISCUSSED, BUT WHAT WE WERE AGREEING TO WAS A SCENARIO THAT WAS LARGELY UNPRECEDENTED.

EVERY BODY WAS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT SURVIVAL AT THAT POINT IN TIME AND NOT NECESSARILY WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE WERE DOING THINGS ON THE UP AND UP, BECAUSE WE DIDN'’T TRUST THEM.

SUE: AT WHAT POINT DID YOU THINK THIS IS NOT GOING THE WAY WE THINK IT SHOULD?

HILARY: I NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS LEGAL.

I AM PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THE LAW IS BUT BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH AN UNPRECEDENTED POINT IN TIME, IT WAS QUESTIONABLE AND YOU JUST ASSUMED THAT PEOPLE WHO HAD BOOKIES BRUCE WE KNOW BEST -- BOOKKEEPERS WOULD KNOW BEST.

SUE: I TRIED TO SUPPORT THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY AS BEST I COULD WITH TAKE OUT.

EVERY TIME I GET A CHECK, I LOOK AT THE CHECK.

I AM SEEING THESE FEES FOR THINGS.

SOME FACEBOOK POSTS WILL COME UP AND SAY THIS RESTAURANT IS DOUBLE CHARGING.

IS THIS A MESSAGE TO EVERYONE WHO WAS IN THIS BUSINESS THAT IT IS A GOOD TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOUR POLICIES ARE AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE ADHERING TO STATE LAW AND LISTEN IF YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE COMPLAINING.

LOU: I THINK THAT IS A GREAT WAY TO PUT IT.

THE LAWSUIT IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE EMPLOYEES GET THE TIPS TO WHICH THEY ARE ENTITLED.

IT WAS A TIME WHEN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY WAS NOT EVEN GOING TO SURVIVE AT ALL IT WAS THOUGHT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD LEAVE VERY GENEROUS TIPS BECAUSE THEY SAW PEOPLE PUTTING THEMSELVES IN HARMS WAY TO SERVE THEM.

IT CAN BE REALLY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THE INTRICACIES OF WAGE LAW.

A LOT OF PLACES DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE A HUGE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.

SO SOMETHING LIKE THIS CAN REALLY PUT PEOPLE ON NOTICE.

MAYBE I NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT EVERYTHING.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF RESTAURANT OWNERS AND MANAGERS WHO WERE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

IF THIS CAUSES SOME OF THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR POLICIES, THAT IS GREAT TOO.

WE HOPE IT IS AN EDUCATIONAL THING.

IF YOU ARE NOT CERTAIN WHAT THE LAW IS, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

SUE: I WANT TO MOVE TO THE MORE DISTURBING IN A CERTAIN WAY, THE HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT IS A DIFFERENT ENTITY AND WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT IT.

THERE IS A LOT OF ALLEGATIONS IN THE BOSTON GLOBE AND THE NEW YORK TIMES WITH MANY EMPLOYEES COMING FORWARD SHARING STORIES OF A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE SHARING WITH US ABOUT THAT ENVIRONMENT?

HILARY: PERSONALLY, I HAVE TO SAY I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING FORWARD.

THIS IS NOT A PERSONAL VENDETTA.

BUT I DID FEEL STRONGLY THAT OTHER PEOPLE'’S VOICES ARE HEARD IN THE REGARDS TO THE EXPERIENCES THEY HAD.

I PERSONALLY WAS RELATIVELY LUCKY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT OF BARBARA AS AN ABSENTEE OWNER.

I WORKED AT THE RESTAURANT FOR 11 YEARS AND IT WAS FEW AND FAR BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF TIMES WE HAVE INTERACTED.

I AM PRETTY SURE SHE DID NOT KNOW MY NAME.

BUT I CANNOT -- MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IS WITH THIS VENUE IN PARTICULAR AND THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE THEY HAVE STORIES TO TELL AND I AM PROUD THEY HAVE COME FORWARD BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT TO BE LEARNED.

SUE: I HAVE A STATEMENT REGARDING THE ALLEGATIONS.

THE FANTASTICAL ACCUSATION SURFACING NOW SEEM DESIGNED TO TAKE ME DOWN AND LUMPED ME IN WITH PEERS ACCUSED OF BEHAVIOR THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CRIMINAL.

I EXPRESSLY REJECT THE VARIOUS FALSE ACCUSATIONS LODGED AGAINST ME THAT I HAVE BEHAVED INAPPROPRIATELY WITH EMPLOYEES ACROSS PROFESSIONAL GUIDEPOSTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME.

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?

HILARY: I NEVER WORKED IN THAT CAPACITY OR MANNER, SO I THINK THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO WORKED THAT MUCH MORE CLOSELY, IN PARTICULAR KITCHEN STAFF I HAVE A LOT MORE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

I THINK IT IS NORMAL TO DEFEND YOURSELF.

I THINK THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AND THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY.

SUE: THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY HAS BEEN IN A BUBBLE.

I WAS JOKING EARLIER WITH COLLEAGUES.

I WORKED IN THE NIGHTCLUB BUSINESS.

THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS IS FAR WORSE.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SURPRISING TO ME.

IS THIS LEGAL MINEFIELD -- THE STORIES THAT YOU HEAR OF PEOPLE WORKING IN RESTAURANTS, IN THE KITCHEN, THE WAY WE ROMANTICIZE IT, IT IS JUST FOOD.

IS IT TIME FOR RESTAURANTS TO REALLY TAKE A SELF CHECK AND REALIZE THEY ARE A PLACE OF BUSINESS AND NOT JUST SOME CREATIVE STUDIO WHERE THEY CAN HAVE TANTRUMS.

LOU: I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT.

JUST TO RESPOND TO HER STATEMENT THERE.

IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO ANY OF THE SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS THAT PEOPLE MADE, WE CERTAINLY WELCOME BACK.

I DO NOT REPRESENT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE SHE SPOKE ABOUT.

BUT WE WANT TO STAND UP FOR THOSE PEOPLES CONTINUED ABILITY TO SPEAK ABOUT THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

I WORKED IN RESTAURANTS FOR 17 YEARS.

I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE.

THAT IS WHY I FEEL SUCH A DEEP CONNECTION WITH RESTAURANT PEOPLE.

FOR YEARS, THERE WAS A PHRASE WE WOULD USE.

IT IS JUST THE INDUSTRY.

THAT WAS A COVER PHRASE FOR SEXUAL PROPRIETY, WAGE VIOLATIONS, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, OVER DEPENDENCY ON CHEMICALS.

YOU ARE CORRECT, I WAS A ROMANTICIZED THING.

OH, WE LIVE BY A DIFFERENT SET OF RULES AND PEOPLE WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND.

BECAUSE OF THAT, THE ABUSES WERE HEAPED UPON AN PEOPLE JUST ACCEPTED IT.

IF SHE HAS RESPONSES TO THOSE SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS WE ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO HEAR THEM.

BUT WE FULLY SUPPORT PEOPLE CONTINUING TO TELL THEIR STORIES.

WHEN YOU HAVE INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED LIKE THINGS ARE SAID AND PEOPLE FEEL DEEP HURT, THE KIND OF RESPONSE THAT THEY RECEIVED, THAT IS WHEN PEOPLE START ASKING QUESTIONS.

SUE: YOU ARE REFERRING OF COURSE TO THE DEATH OF ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES.

LOU: EXACTLY.

HIS SENT SHOCKWAVES THROUGH THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.

WHEN SOMEBODY RESPONDS IN THE WAY THAT BARBARA LYNCH DID, SOMETIMES THAT CAN HURT A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WHEN PEOPLE FEEL REALLY HURT, BUT THAT IS WHEN THEY START ASKING QUESTIONS.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY START SEEKING ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS.

OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THE TIPS GO TO THE RIGHT PLACE.

SUE: ARE YOU STILL IN THE BUSINESS?

>> I AM.

I AM NEVER GIVEN UP.

SUE: I THANK YOU BOTH.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORIES WITH ME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW.

I AM SUE O'’CONNELL, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.