Texas restaurant bans customer who left racist ‘we don’t tip terrorists’ note

'I share this because I want people to understand that this racism, and this hatred still exists'

A Texas restaurant has permanently banned a patron after the customer left a racist note reading ‘we don’t tip terrorists’ on their bill.

Khalil Cavil, a waiter at Saltgrass Steak House in Odessa, Texas, recounted his experience receiving the racist note while he was on the job in a post published to Facebook. Mr Cavil said he was “sick to his stomach” when he returned to one of the tables he was waiting to find “we don’t tip terrorists” written on a receipt.

“I didn’t know what to think nor what to say, I was sick to my stomach,” Mr Cavil wrote. “I share this because I want people to understand that this racism, and this hatred still exists."

A photo of the receipt revealed the customer indeed did not leave a tip for the $108.73 (£80) bill, and evidently circled Mr Cavil’s first name, Khalil, which was printed on the receipt. Mr Cavil reportedly told Texas ABC affiliate KMID that people often make assumptions about his name; he said he was named after his father’s friend who died while the two were in the military together.

Mr Cavil’s post has since been shared more than 17,000 times on Facebook and he has received an outpouring of support on his page from people around the world.

“Disgusting racists,” one Facebook user wrote in Mr Cavil’s comments. “Please don't let it get to you. best wishes from Scotland”.

Mr Cavil said he shared the post to spread awareness.

“It was not about the money,” he told ABC. “It was never about the money, it's about shedding the light on an issue I feel very passionate about."

Terry Turney, COO of Saltgrass Steak House said that the restaurant will support Mr Cavil in a statement to the Odessa American.

The Odessa American previously reported on Mr Cavil for his work volunteering with the youth for a Juneteenth celebration, where African-Americans celebrate the anniversary of the emancipation of slaves in Texas on 19, June, 1865.

“We stand by and support our employee,” Mr Turney said. “Racism of any form is unacceptable and we have banned this customer from returning to our establishment.”

Mr Cavil wrote on Facebook that he’s using the experience as fuel to help change the world.

“I have decided to let this encourage me, and fuel me to change the world the only way I know how,” he wrote.”So to all the haters out there, keep talkin’, [you’re] only helping me step into my destiny!”