A local club has reached a settlement with state and federal authorities in connection with allegations of discrimination against people of Cambodian heritage.

The office of U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Weisman announced the resolution with the Cranston Portuguese Club, located on Second Avenue, in a press release on Sept. 12.

According to Weisman’s office, an investigation was conducted jointly with the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights into allegations that the club had violated provisions of state law and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Specifically, the release states that officials received information that prior to 2017, it was the club’s policy and practice to ask first-time patrons if they were of Cambodian descent – and if they were, to arrange for Cranston Police Department details with the cost passed on to the patrons.

“The Club maintained that its practice of requiring a police detail was based on what it understood to be direction from the Police Department dating to the 1990s,” reads the release from Weisman’s office. “The investigation concluded that individuals of Cambodian ancestry were required by the Club to pay for detail officers for their weddings, birthday parties, and graduation celebrations. The Club did not follow this policy or practice for patrons who were not of Cambodian ancestry.”

Under the terms of the settlement, the club is being required to establish a victims fund to compensate those affected since Dec. 10, 2005; “post a framed apology to the Rhode Island Cambodian community”; and provide training for its officers and members.

Members of the Cambodian community who were charged for police details during events at the club anytime since Dec. 10, 2005, are advised to contact the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights at 222-4477.

“Discrimination against an individual or group based on their national origin, as was the case here, is simply wrong and against the law,” Weisman said in the release. “This office, both independently and working with partners such as the Rhode Island Commission on Human Rights, is committed to addressing claims of discrimination in our communities.”

“The commission was pleased to work with the United States attorney’s office on this important matter of discrimination, and we look forward to combining our efforts in the future should the occasion to do so arise,” Michael Evora, executive director of the commission, said in the release.

The release additionally states that the U.S. Department of Justice, at the request of Cranston Police, has “provided technical assistance … regarding their detail policy and obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to ensure that those policies are current and compliant with Title VI.”