Comments: I had went to the store location #2606 with three other persons after leaving worship at Waterford Church of Christ. There was a issued that arose when David confront two female afro Americans rudely and in a fashion that was publicly humiliating. After I witnessed this I went to ask the person who had made the remarks who he was and he identified himself as David Genl. Mgr. I said I was somewhat surprised that you didnt go directly to the womens table instead of yelling at them from across the room drawing attention to them as if they had done something wrong. He stated this is my store I do what I want, who do you think you are to tell me what to do. I stated that I by no means, am telling you what to do I was only making an observation and suggesting it may have been handled differently. David stated its none of your business and butt out. I then ask for corporate number or a way to contact the owner directly he became incensed and said you can just get hell out how about that. I asked why he was becoming so intense with me for asking for company information. He stated I'll call the police and have you thrown out. I went back to tell my party what had transpired and to apologize to the women for what had happen. The waitress then may a observation that he is rude many times and doesnt know how to talk to people nicely. When I had gathered my coat and we were leaving I stopped to thank Mgr. Keith who was doing a Dynamic job when David came running up saying; "dont talk to him he works for me, you dont say anything to him. David proceeded to come around the counter and again berated me saying I was never to come back again, I sated I would be contacting authorities higher up about your interaction today with the general public and how you handled it, he again responded this time stating " get your black A* out of my store and dont come back. I told him I would like to retrieve my letter gloves left on the chair, he kept me from doing so and kept making a scene and yelling, with obscenities. The two persons with me, both Caucasian one a visitor from Durand was flabbergasted by the events and the rude behavior. I had called over to the Westland store (while sitting at my table after the Genrl Mgr. Stated he runs this store) and left message for David that I needed to speak with him about the store managers disposition at the Clinton Twsp store, and to get a contact number for corporate, and I was told someone would call me back, they were quite busy. I have never in my life had a store Director tell me to get my Black A— out of any place I have patronized and this is quite disturbing, enough so I will contact the Churches of Christ to ask them not to patronize the company and to lodge Civil Rights and ethnic intimidation against the bruits manager
The Right to Refuse Service? A Layer ansers:
In addition to the protections against discrimination provided under federal law, many states have passed their own Civil Rights Acts that provide broader protections than the Federal Civil Rights Act. For example, California's Unruh Civil Rights Act makes it illegal to discriminate against individuals based on unconventional dress or sexual preference.
In the 1960s, the Unruh Civil Rights Act was interpreted to provide broad protection from arbitrary discrimination by business owners. Cases decided during that era held that business owners could not discriminate, for example, against hippies, police officers, homosexuals, or Republicans, solely because of who they were.
In cases in which the patron is not a member of a federally protected class, the question generally turns on whether the business's refusal of service was arbitrary, or whether the business had a specific interest in refusing service.
Like many issues involving constitutional law, the law against discrimination in public accommodations is in a constant state of change. Some argue that anti-discrimination laws in matters of public accommodations create a conflict between the ideal of equality and individual rights. Does the guaranteed right to public access mean the business owner's private right to exclude is violated? For the most part, courts have decided that the constitutional interest in providing equal access to public accommodations outweighs the individual liberties involved.
Leanne Phillips
contributing
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