A Couple who opened a Haitian food truck were told, ‘Go back to your own country,’ lawsuit says

Clemene Bastien and Theslet Benoir stand outside of their Eben-Ezer Haitian food truck in Parksley, Va.

A married couple, hailing from Haiti and now residing in Virginia, realized their American dream by establishing a variety market on the Eastern Shore. Clemene Bastien and Theslet Benoir's market catered to the region's growing Haitian community, offering a range of goods including elusive spices, sodas, and rice.

The addition of a Haitian food truck to their enterprise drew patrons from as far as an hour away, enticed by freshly prepared delicacies such as oxtail, fried plantains, and marinated pork.

However, Bastien and Benoir found themselves embroiled in a legal battle with the town of Parksley, alleging that municipal authorities forced the closure of their food truck. They claim that a town council member even sabotaged the mobile kitchen by severing its water line and hurling discriminatory remarks, saying, "Go back to your own country!"

The couple's federal lawsuit accuses the town of enacting a targeted food truck ban, threatening fines and imprisonment when their concerns were raised. Represented by the Institute for Justice, Bastien, and Benoir contend that the town's actions constitute a series of abuses.

Parksley's town council, represented by the law firm Pender & Coward, refutes these allegations, asserting that the couple failed to obtain a necessary conditional use permit and opted for litigation instead. They argue that the council member in question had legitimate grounds for severing an illegal sewage pipe, not a water line, due to damage caused by the food truck's disposal of grease into the town's sewage system.

The dispute reflects broader tensions between local governments and food trucks, a narrative playing out across the United States for decades. These conflicts often underscore issues of land use, food safety, and the rights of food truck operators, particularly in underserved communities.

Despite Parksley's increasing diversity, with a majority-white population, the Haitian couple's ordeal highlights challenges faced by immigrants pursuing entrepreneurial ventures in small-town America. The region's Haitian community, primarily employed in the poultry industry, values establishments like Bastien and Benoir's food truck for providing familiar comforts amidst demanding work schedules.

As the couple awaits the outcome of their legal battle, they remain hopeful for justice and the opportunity to reopen their food truck, a vital conduit for their community's culinary heritage.