A Muslim woman is threatening to sue Chevron after a Florida gas attendant refused to sell her gas because she would not remove her veil, according to an ABC News story.
Le Fleur Mohamed said she was embarrassed by the attendant’s refusal to sell her $20 worth of gas at a Boca Raton gas station last fall. Wilfredo Ruiz, her attorney, said Chevron issued a “light apology,” but the company needs to do more to remedy the situation.
“If Chevron does not move away from the rheotoric, then we will pursue a legal action,” Ruiz told ABCNews.com. “If they admit their errors and compensate accordingly for a very oppressive way of treating her, then we don’t see a need to go trial.”
Chevron said Mohamed was asked to remove her veil, but it was protocol for people to remove masks or other head covering for security purposes.
Maybe the gas station should’ve posted a sign in the interest of prior disclosure. Such as: No shoes, no shirt, no face…No service.
Rather than deal with close-minded Americans… I am sure she would have had a much easier time pumping gas in a middle-eastern country, where it is often the law women are not permitted to drive.
This is tremendously stupid ! All this for $20 prepaid in cash !!
Chevron should pay her a $200 stupidity fine.
Personally, I think a business should be allowed to decide if they want to do business with someone or not. That is, I don’t have a problem with a business that decides to sell only to left-handed people, or to Koreans, or to refuse service to heterosexuals, or white guys, or whatever. That doesn’t mean I necessarily agree or disagree with their opinion or their decision, just that I don’t think anyone should be *forced* to enter into a transaction if they don’t want to, for whatever reason. If I don’t like the business, or I think the owner is a racist or a bigot or whatever, I’m free to go elsewhere to spend my money.
Another frivolous lawsuit in the works. Where are the sleazy lawyers?
Hrothbart,
That is a fine theory unless you happen to be a member of a small minority group that is systematically discriminated against by the larger groups.
I can probably find any number of gas stations as a lilly white dude, but it might be more difficult for a Jewish guy to find a Jewish owned gas station near his house.
Heidi Harvey, this subject deals with the our societal workings…we are not discussing what happens in the Middle East since we do not live there.
Tex, I hope sues Cheveron’s a** off!
If your going to go around dressed like a bandit then don’t complain when people won’t do business with you. Are you really what you claim or are your hiding a weapon and about to rob that business. Many banks require you to remove your sunglasses and head gear before they will serve you. Are they racist also? Noooo. They are just trying to keep from being robbed and or killed. Political correctness won’t give your your life back.