This is much longer than I intended, sorry!
Last week I went out with 3 friends, one woman, 2 men; they are all black, I am white (this is relevant.) We had dinner together at friend's house, then went to a bar we often visit. We had a great time, had quite a bit to drink but none of us were particularly drunk. We had a good dance, then when the bar was closing we decided to continue our night at a club just up the road from where we were. When we arrived the club was busy but not heaving, and a we saw people coming and going as we approached. When we got to the door, my 2 male friends were slightly ahead of me and my other friend, so it was not obvious that the four of us were together. The bouncer stopped my friends from going in, as we caught up with them we heard the bouncer tell them that they couldn't go in as they were wearing trainers. Fair enough, we all said, and were about to leave when friend A looked over at the smoking area (an enclosure at the front of the club, just behind the bouncer) and noticed that there were loads of men wearing trainers, these men were all white.
At the same time, other people were entering the club behind us, so it was not as if it were full to capacity, or near closing. Friend A questioned why there were several men already in the club wearing trainers. The bouncer stuttered and stammered and said something about management having the right to refuse entry. Friend B (also black male) asked the bouncer to reiterate the reasons we weren't allowed to enter. Was it because they were wearing trainers or because the management had told him not to let us in? The bouncer just apologised and said he could not let us in. Another bouncer (female, but not sure that's relevant) came over and asked the first bouncer if there was any trouble. Bouncer 1 says no, no trouble. Bouncer 2 then tells us we're not getting in so may as well piss off. Friend A again asks for a reason and is told that it is because he is wearing trainers. He then tells bouncer 2 about all of the other people we can clearly see wearing trainers. She says no, noone is allowed in in trainers. We are all pissed off now, as we can clearly see all other people in trainers.
Friend A asks bouncer 2 to turn around and look at all of the people wearing trainers in the smoking area. Bouncer 2 refuses to turn her head and look, and again we are told to piss off. I should point out that until now none of us has so much as raised our voices, or said anything offensive. Friend A then takes 2 steps so that he is directly next to bouncer 2 and again points at the people in the smoking area and tells her to turn around. Bouncer 2 says "If you take one more step I will phone the police!" We are all infuriated at this as we have done nothing wrong, certainly nothing to require police involvement. Friend A then starts shouting and accusing the bouncers of being racist, as the only difference between him and the other trainer-wearers is the colour of their skin. However, he was not aggressive or violent in any way, he isn't like that at all. Bouncer 2 walks off, speaks into radio and within 30 seconds, 8 police men walk over to us and lead us away from the club, ignoring everything we had to say. They left us on the street further up from the club.
We ended up going to a different club and continuing our night. The others weren't at all bothered or surprised by it by the next day. Sadly they have all experienced racism of some sort over the years, but this was my first experience of witnessing it first hand. I am still furious! Do you think I can do anything about it? Would the club take a complaint seriously? Friends think I should just leave it.