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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 05:58 PM Dec 2012

Congressman’s Restaurant Refused To Serve Muslim Couple

Last edited Fri Dec 7, 2012, 12:23 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: TPM

RYAN J. REILLY DECEMBER 4, 2012, 4:17 PM 5013
Mohammad Husain and his wife were looking for a bite to eat and a nice place to relax when they stopped in last month at a Shreveport, La. sandwich shop owned by Rep. John Fleming (R-LA).

But that visit soon turned turbulent, Husain told TPM recently, when he found himself locked out of the Subway franchise and his wife locked inside with an employee telling them they were not welcome there because they were Muslim.

“I never have felt this kind of open discrimination,” Husain said in an interview on Friday. “I’m sure there’s people that do discriminate. They have their own prejudices. That’s human nature. But for somebody to openly at a public place to show that open hatred and openly discriminate upon a religion, I think this should not be allowed.”

Neither Fleming nor his spokesman returned calls to the congressman’s office or home. But a manager who runs several Subway franchises owned by Fleming told TPM he has video that proves Husain is wrong about what happened that day. The manager declined to make that public.

-snip-

Read more: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/12/john_fleming_muslim_subway.php?ref=fpa



This OP has been updated:

Fleming: Muslim Couple Left ‘Big Mess’ In My Restaurant

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014328955
81 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Congressman’s Restaurant Refused To Serve Muslim Couple (Original Post) DonViejo Dec 2012 OP
Say bye bye to your seat, congressman. Dont call me Shirley Dec 2012 #1
They NOLALady Dec 2012 #5
Yes Warren Religion Dec 2012 #14
And weirdly enough, his running mate Ken Burch Dec 2012 #42
That candidate is dead BainsBane Dec 2012 #45
I doubt that TexasProgresive Dec 2012 #7
What's the deal with northern Louisiana? Still stuck in the Civil War/ freshwest Dec 2012 #18
It's the uptight, Baptist part of the state-as opposed to the black/Creole/Cajun south Ken Burch Dec 2012 #43
The whole Republican party is stuck in the civil war question everything Dec 2012 #55
So it's just heavily GOP. Got it. freshwest Dec 2012 #57
LOL ProudToBeBlueInRhody Dec 2012 #16
+1000 n/t southern_belle Dec 2012 #30
LOL! Plucketeer Dec 2012 #53
Jeez ltheghost Dec 2012 #66
Post removed Post removed Dec 2012 #72
maybe pizza? Tunkamerica Dec 2012 #73
should be mercuryblues Dec 2012 #75
He is still here obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #76
When did Timothy McVeigh and Eric Rudolph start avoiding pork again? ck4829 Dec 2012 #74
That is truly disgusting. dipsydoodle Dec 2012 #2
+100 jeanlibny594283 Dec 2012 #67
re:Congressman’s Restaurant Refused To Serve Muslim Couple allan01 Dec 2012 #3
Civil Rights Act Outlaws marias23 Dec 2012 #12
No, it bans discrimination of groups listed in the law. Interstate commerce is not required. (nt) jeff47 Dec 2012 #13
Not correct--Title II bans discrimination in public accommodations engaged in lastlib Dec 2012 #41
The right to regulate interstate commerce was the basis jerseyjack Dec 2012 #24
Not true -- owners can't deny service for any reason obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #25
"No shoes, no shirt, no service." TheMadMonk Dec 2012 #60
Yes ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2012 #4
Well... sulphurdunn Dec 2012 #19
See? It always pays to wait for all the facts! Iggo Dec 2012 #56
knr Douglas Carpenter Dec 2012 #6
Is that even legal? nt tblue Dec 2012 #8
no obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #26
What does Subway have to say about this? nm rhett o rick Dec 2012 #9
Subway up the street served them, no problem. intheflow Dec 2012 #47
I think Subway would be libel. Just sayin. nm rhett o rick Dec 2012 #48
Nope. bitchkitty Dec 2012 #49
Did you read the employee's account of what happened? oberliner Dec 2012 #79
Ha...another public "outing" a la Akin and Murdock. It's one thing to operate in the shadows libdem4life Dec 2012 #10
So a resturant that is owned by a guy who was elected to uphold the constitution of the US... olddad56 Dec 2012 #11
Why not wait for the 840high Dec 2012 #23
Exactly. Fantastic Anarchist Dec 2012 #36
So why is the manager not releasing it? TheMadMonk Dec 2012 #63
Why do that when jumping to conclusions always works out fine... hughee99 Dec 2012 #81
Because Lester Maddox did the same thing fifty years ago. Ken Burch Dec 2012 #44
Because cordelia Dec 2012 #69
a subway??? corp subway must be crapping brick over this dembotoz Dec 2012 #15
yep especially when look at the countries subway has locations in azurnoir Dec 2012 #17
You read the article and it seems the whole thing could be much ado about nothing. . . Journeyman Dec 2012 #20
Yes, they certainly are pressing teh issue obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #27
No, they're not. . . Journeyman Dec 2012 #37
Yes, they are obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #38
They request but they don't press. Tells me they have no faith in Husain . . . Journeyman Dec 2012 #39
This message was self-deleted by its author maddogesq Dec 2012 #21
Don't jump to conclusions people! Vattel Dec 2012 #22
Actually, the video is being withheld by the manager. Release the video! The Stranger Dec 2012 #52
If the account is accurate, his wife was also held illegally obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #28
Headquaters in Milford Connecticut could revoke their license n/t bonniebgood Dec 2012 #29
Our tax dollars pay for Fleming's whiney teabagging ass! muntrv Dec 2012 #31
Until more evidence, I'd withhold judgement. Kablooie Dec 2012 #32
Actually, the manager is WITHHOLDING THE EVIDENCE. He won't release the video. The Stranger Dec 2012 #51
Flem's office sez Husain is wrong -why would the couple make it up????? lunasun Dec 2012 #33
more heaven05 Dec 2012 #34
He ate at a Subway down the street. Fantastic Anarchist Dec 2012 #35
After reading the article, Husain sounds much more trustworthy Blasphemer Dec 2012 #40
The employee in question is an African-American female oberliner Dec 2012 #78
My congressman is Muslim BainsBane Dec 2012 #46
On reading the article the title of the post seems a bit misleading. yellowcanine Dec 2012 #50
Thank you for this oberliner Dec 2012 #80
Thid happened almost a month ago and isn't... TreasonousBastard Dec 2012 #54
I would boycott any business that plays loud Christmas music in November Brother Buzz Dec 2012 #58
Apparently, playing the Christmas music loud on Thanksgiving Eve. rightsideout Dec 2012 #65
And if you read the comments on the blog, you'll find that mention. /nt TheMadMonk Dec 2012 #61
here is a local news report Enrique Dec 2012 #62
Do we have a Subway e-mail address to which we can write letters? skip fox Dec 2012 #59
Always go out to dine chazunit Dec 2012 #64
The video probably shows worse behavior than Husain conveys. Boycott racists, bigots & homophobes judesedit Dec 2012 #68
Shreveport is very conservative. Manifestor_of_Light Dec 2012 #70
What da hell? Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Dec 2012 #71
Yet another expert on race. SCVDem Dec 2012 #77

TexasProgresive

(12,147 posts)
7. I doubt that
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 06:13 PM
Dec 2012

The wack jobs will turn out in droves to vote this guy in again. Lot of haters in northern Louisiana.

 

Ken Burch

(50,254 posts)
43. It's the uptight, Baptist part of the state-as opposed to the black/Creole/Cajun south
Wed Dec 5, 2012, 12:52 AM
Dec 2012

Last edited Wed Dec 5, 2012, 02:47 AM - Edit history (1)

There was a line in THE DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YAYA SISTERHOOD describing the respective parts of the state as "the sin-hungry south and the atonement-hungry north", or something close to that.

question everything

(47,211 posts)
55. The whole Republican party is stuck in the civil war
Wed Dec 5, 2012, 04:38 PM
Dec 2012

at least, the "base" and the politicians take advantage of it.

When they are tying to think how to improve their reach, this point is always missing.

Response to Dont call me Shirley (Reply #1)

allan01

(1,950 posts)
3. re:Congressman’s Restaurant Refused To Serve Muslim Couple
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 06:05 PM
Dec 2012

yes , restraunt owners have the right to refuse service to anyone , BUT it better be a damn good one and not this petty , open and blatent discrimination. hope these folk do file suit .

marias23

(379 posts)
12. Civil Rights Act Outlaws
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 06:33 PM
Dec 2012

I think the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination in anything which is involved with interstate commerce. Restaurants, because their patrons come across state lines as well as their supplies qualify.

jeff47

(26,549 posts)
13. No, it bans discrimination of groups listed in the law. Interstate commerce is not required. (nt)
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 06:42 PM
Dec 2012

lastlib

(22,895 posts)
41. Not correct--Title II bans discrimination in public accommodations engaged in
Wed Dec 5, 2012, 12:10 AM
Dec 2012

interstate commerce. Religion is one of the factors on which discrimination is banned.

 

jerseyjack

(1,361 posts)
24. The right to regulate interstate commerce was the basis
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 08:54 PM
Dec 2012

for the Supreme Court ruling that discrimination is illegal.

Katzenbach v McClung

 

TheMadMonk

(6,187 posts)
60. "No shoes, no shirt, no service."
Wed Dec 5, 2012, 08:24 PM
Dec 2012

Drunk, belligerance;
Screaming or otherwise disruptive children;
Even the fact that you've hated their guts since grade school.

There are plenty of perfectly valid reasons whereby a restraunteur can deny service. Which is why it is spelled out in the law that predjudice and bigotry ARE NOT valid reasons.

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
4. Yes ...
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 06:07 PM
Dec 2012
But a manager who runs several Subway franchises owned by Fleming told TPM he has video that proves Husain is wrong about what happened that day.


Completely wrong! The employee didn't tell them they were not welcome because they are Muslim ... the employee said, they were not welcome because they have darkish skin, dressed funny and spoke with a funny accent!

intheflow

(28,341 posts)
47. Subway up the street served them, no problem.
Wed Dec 5, 2012, 05:44 AM
Dec 2012

A Subway not owned by Fleming. When Subway HQ was contacted, they kicked it back down to Fleming who owns the franchise in question. So not really a Subway problem, it's a problem with this one franchise, and probably, one stupid, ignorant, racist fuck of an employee who's too inbred to understand discrimination is illegal.

 

oberliner

(58,724 posts)
79. Did you read the employee's account of what happened?
Sat Dec 8, 2012, 01:42 PM
Dec 2012

She is an African-American woman who tells a somewhat different version of the events in question.

 

libdem4life

(13,877 posts)
10. Ha...another public "outing" a la Akin and Murdock. It's one thing to operate in the shadows
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 06:30 PM
Dec 2012

as a pig, but entirely another to be caught in the broad daylight in the hog slop.

olddad56

(5,732 posts)
11. So a resturant that is owned by a guy who was elected to uphold the constitution of the US...
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 06:33 PM
Dec 2012

gets caught violating the constitution. How did I know this happened in the south before I even read the post?

Fantastic Anarchist

(7,309 posts)
36. Exactly.
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 10:17 PM
Dec 2012

I'm a little disappointed in the responses to the OP. It seems most haven't read the whole story.

According to the whole article, there appears to be two sides to this story. Husain even went to a Subway down the street where there was no incident. I'll reserve judgment until I can see the tape for myself.

 

TheMadMonk

(6,187 posts)
63. So why is the manager not releasing it?
Wed Dec 5, 2012, 09:20 PM
Dec 2012

A potential lawsuit? BULLSHIT! Unless he's planning to drop a pointless and expensive defamation/slander lauwsuit on Hussein's head, releasing the video can only make any potential lawsuit AND Hussein go away. IF it is as the manager characterises.

Hussein called 911 in a State where he almost certainly knows, being Not White is considered a crime all in it's own right by far, far too many of Louisiana's "finest".

Although the articles doesn't state: I strongly suspect the officer who attended, told the Husseins what they would have to do, and how long it would take if they wanted to formally press charges. "Just take it on the chin and move on."

Normally I am one to ask for both sides to a story before making a decision, or at the least play a sometimes very unpopular devil's advocate, but when one party says: "I don't have to tell you my side, but he's wrong." I'll take that with a very large grain of salt, and provisionally assume they're a lying sack of shit.

hughee99

(16,113 posts)
81. Why do that when jumping to conclusions always works out fine...
Sat Dec 8, 2012, 01:55 PM
Dec 2012

like when that teabagger left the truck-bomb in times square or the poor lady in Louisiana who got lit on fire by the KKK.

Journeyman

(14,991 posts)
20. You read the article and it seems the whole thing could be much ado about nothing. . .
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 07:43 PM
Dec 2012

and as the Council on American-Islamic Relations is not pressing the issue, and has as yet to file any allegations of wrongdoing by the police, I suspect the alternate view, that Mohammad Husain made himself unwelcome by his actions, may prove to be the case here.

At this time, however, there's too many conflicting stories, and each too incomplete, to draw any conclusions. Not that that will prove a deterrent, however.

obamanut2012

(25,869 posts)
27. Yes, they certainly are pressing teh issue
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 09:11 PM
Dec 2012
Meanwhile, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights organization, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, has demanded Subway apologize for the incident and asked the local police to investigate.

Journeyman

(14,991 posts)
37. No, they're not. . .
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 10:19 PM
Dec 2012
Last week, the Council on American-Islamic Relations asked the Shreveport police to investigate whether its officers did anything wrong, including failing to help stop the discrimination. But on Monday, the police spokesman told TPM he didn’t expect the agency to conduct an internal inquiry because no one has explicitly alleged the officers did something wrong.

Likewise, the civil rights group also asked Subway corporate headquarters to investigate and demanded an apology from the company. The company referred the investigation to Fleming’s franchise and has so far offered no apology.

If CAIR felt Husain had standing, they'd have alleged by now that the officers did something wrong. And if Subway felt there were a valid need for an apology, I'm sure it would have been offered almost immediately.

I believe a full investigation will probably show Husain acted deplorably and tried to hide his own distasteful conduct behind a reprehensible allegation of discrimination.

All this said, I stand by my previous assertion that there just isn't enough known at this time to form an opinion, and that what is known is far too contradictory to draw any valid conclusions. But again, I'll repeat, this won't stop people on this board -- and elsewhere -- from making all sorts of judgments about something they neither know nor understand.

obamanut2012

(25,869 posts)
38. Yes, they are
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 10:32 PM
Dec 2012
It says in every article they are requesting investigations. In addition, Subway did what all franchise corporate do: bounced it to the franchisee.

We also know if anything was on the tape, we would have seen it.

Journeyman

(14,991 posts)
39. They request but they don't press. Tells me they have no faith in Husain . . .
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 10:40 PM
Dec 2012

Well, I grow bored with Husain's search for a guiltless sandwich, especially as he found one that afternoon a scant few blocks away, and in another branch of the very chain that supposedly treated him so foully.

You keep an eye on this and if anything more becomes known, be sure to let inform us all. For myself, I stand by my original suspicion.

Response to DonViejo (Original post)

 

Vattel

(9,289 posts)
22. Don't jump to conclusions people!
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 08:39 PM
Dec 2012

For all we know Husain is lying. Right now we just have contradicting stories.

The Stranger

(11,297 posts)
52. Actually, the video is being withheld by the manager. Release the video!
Wed Dec 5, 2012, 11:55 AM
Dec 2012

Having someone report discrimination -- which everyone knows is widespread in Louisiana -- isn't "jumping to conclusions."

It is seeing that justice is done.

obamanut2012

(25,869 posts)
28. If the account is accurate, his wife was also held illegally
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 09:12 PM
Dec 2012

You can't lock people in and not let them out.

Kablooie

(18,547 posts)
32. Until more evidence, I'd withhold judgement.
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 09:24 PM
Dec 2012

It could be circumstances other then religious discrimination that caused the dispute.
The discrimination angle could have been cooked up to damage the place.

Or it could have been exactly as the article describes.

But you shouldn't believe everything you read right off the bat even if it sounds like it sticks it to a Republican.

The Stranger

(11,297 posts)
51. Actually, the manager is WITHHOLDING THE EVIDENCE. He won't release the video.
Wed Dec 5, 2012, 11:53 AM
Dec 2012

If what they're saying isn't true, RELEASE THE VIDEO.

lunasun

(21,646 posts)
33. Flem's office sez Husain is wrong -why would the couple make it up?????
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 09:46 PM
Dec 2012

I think all know what happened
the owners just do not want discrimination PR or lawsuit

 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
34. more
Tue Dec 4, 2012, 10:12 PM
Dec 2012

two more votes going to democrats in next election. Little by little, 'real' americans are going to prove to the haters, it just won't work. And yes, be careful on the immediate judgement of racism. I was burned a couple months ago with a woman claiming she was set on fire by racists. I was up in arms. Turned out she did it to herself. I ate crow.

Blasphemer

(3,261 posts)
40. After reading the article, Husain sounds much more trustworthy
Wed Dec 5, 2012, 12:08 AM
Dec 2012

Even if the truth is somewhere in the middle, the reaction of everyone involved with the franchise is highly suspect. Inappropriate behavior that they can't name because of a potential future lawsuit (i.e. because they have to get their stories straight lest the employees contradict one another)? A tape unreleased due to obscured audio? I believe the Subway employees engaged in racial profiling and assumed he was up to no good. The claim that they explicitly told him that it was due to his religion may be an exaggeration but I'm inclined to believe discrimination was involved. I expect a quiet settlement.

BainsBane

(52,999 posts)
46. My congressman is Muslim
Wed Dec 5, 2012, 03:07 AM
Dec 2012

And we've got more Halal markets than anything else around here. The nearest market to my North is Halal, while the convenience store two blocks south is owned by Muslims. He's welcome up here in Minneapolis anytime.

yellowcanine

(35,690 posts)
50. On reading the article the title of the post seems a bit misleading.
Wed Dec 5, 2012, 11:42 AM
Dec 2012

Maybe we should wait for a few more facts to come out about this story and not jump to conclusions.

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
54. Thid happened almost a month ago and isn't...
Wed Dec 5, 2012, 04:10 PM
Dec 2012

mentioned anywhere but on a TPM blog.

Could there be nothing to it?

Brother Buzz

(36,127 posts)
58. I would boycott any business that plays loud Christmas music in November
Wed Dec 5, 2012, 05:44 PM
Dec 2012

That's about all I take away from this story beyond a bit of "he said, she said"

rightsideout

(978 posts)
65. Apparently, playing the Christmas music loud on Thanksgiving Eve.
Thu Dec 6, 2012, 01:30 AM
Dec 2012

Yep, you noticed the "Christmas Music" playing loud in the background of the tape too.

And on Thanksgiving Eve for crying out loud! LOL. As Jon Stewart said this week, "Christmas is starting to consume other holidays. Halloween better watch out." Not his exact quote.

An Islamic man driving through Shreveport on the eve of Thanksgiving is accusing a local restaurant of discrimination based on his traditional Muslim attire.


I guess that means playing the Christmas music loud the day before Thanksgiving. That being said, being the stereotype, labeling person I am (yep, I'm admitting it) the store manager and probably the owner and workers are conservative-intolerant-bible-thumpers going overboard on the Christmas music.

But I find their discrimination interesting because this customer probably dressed similar to one of the Three Wise Men. Maybe it freaked them out.



skip fox

(19,353 posts)
59. Do we have a Subway e-mail address to which we can write letters?
Wed Dec 5, 2012, 05:49 PM
Dec 2012

One can always write somethng to the effect that if this proves to be true and Subway does nothing, he or she will neer buy another sub.

 

chazunit

(25 posts)
64. Always go out to dine
Thu Dec 6, 2012, 01:23 AM
Dec 2012

at locally owned businesses. One of my favorites is Aladdin's here in Cedar Rapids IA. I am not of middle-eastern decent but much of the clientele is. They are always kind and welcoming to me and my party and the food is absolutely fantastic!

judesedit

(4,434 posts)
68. The video probably shows worse behavior than Husain conveys. Boycott racists, bigots & homophobes
Thu Dec 6, 2012, 03:13 PM
Dec 2012

Hit them in their pocketbooks. That seems to be all they understand.

 

Manifestor_of_Light

(21,046 posts)
70. Shreveport is very conservative.
Thu Dec 6, 2012, 11:46 PM
Dec 2012

I have some distant cousins that OWN the major businesses in Vivian, which is close to Shreveport. They are all Church of Christ attendees, send their kids to Baylor University or Texas Christian University. So conventional they are no fun at all.

Louisiana is kinda like a fiefdom. Serf Cities.

 

SCVDem

(5,103 posts)
77. Yet another expert on race.
Fri Dec 7, 2012, 12:09 PM
Dec 2012

This manager is like Scott Brown. They can tell what you are just by looking.

What would Jesus look like in American casual attire?

Would he be turned away?

What is Jesus doing in a Subway anyway?

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