Bakery Awarded $44 Million In Lawsuit Against Oberlin College

OBERLIN, OH - A year's long dispute between Gibson's Bakery and Oberlin College came to an end this week when David Gibson was awarded $44 million in damages.

The source of the dispute was a reaction to a November 2016 incident. A black Oberlin College student came into the bakery that fall and attempted to buy alcohol using a fake ID. Allyn Gibson chased the student out of the store and the two began to fight. Two other black students joined in the altercation, according to the Associated Press.

The three black students all later pleaded guilty to misdemeanors and said in court that Allyn's actions were not racially motivated.

However, following the initial incident, Oberlin College students protested outside of the bakery and members of the Oberlin College senate claimed the Gibsons had a history of racially profiling customers. A messy feud developed, with conservative activists rallying around the bakery.

The Gibsons said their business was crippled in the fallout, leading to layoffs and an inability to make payments to working family members. The Gibsons also accused members of Oberlin's staff of encouraging the protests.

In a statement issued Friday by Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar, she said, "Let me be absolutely clear: This is not the final outcome. This is, in fact, just one step along the way of what may turn out to be a lengthy and complex legal process. I want to assure you that none of this will sway us from our core values. It will not distract, deter, or materially harm our educational mission, for today’s students or for generations to come."