Suit: McDonald's served up harassment

A Breinigsville woman who says she was denied service at a McDonald's in Whitehall Township because she is a Muslim filed a federal lawsuit Thursday, claiming her civil rights were violated.

[Guest]

This has to be a joke?

[Pachacutec]

I don't know about the effects of what happened (Crying, being unable to nurse her son,etc), but it's possible that she'd been constantly harassed by others and this was just the last straw. Doesn't sound like she did anything to deserve treatment like being refused service and having employees laugh at her. I don't know, maybe it's because I've worked with Muslims for so many years and they're all great people. I can't see why some people go out of their way to harass them. Has it occurred to anyone that maybe many of the Muslims came to this country to get away from things like Al Queda, bin Laden, and Hussein? And I wonder how many of the harassers actually KNOW anyone who's Muslim? On this and other forums, I keep seeing the same old stereotypes and remarks pop up, it's very sad. However, I know many people in the Lehigh Valley area and thankfully everyone up there isn't bigoted (thank goodness).

[Wally]

our country is going to hell in a hand basket. I am from Allentown and after 911 happened, the muslim community was dancing in the streets of Bethlehem chantting "Death to all americians." Where were the law suites then. No one sayes the have to stay here. They come to this great country, then try to destroy it from the inside. If they don't like the treatment they recieve, show that they are not a threat, prove that they are americians, and love this country the way I do. It is time to stop this foolishness and get back to rebuilding our country. Remember, during WWII, every japineesse americians were intered in camps. To the muslims of america, stop crying and do something to change the problem

[Burkhale]

I'm sorry that she was harrassed but I also find it hard to believe that EVERYBODY there harrassed her. Sounds like the story may have been stretched quite a bit - perhaps at the lawyers encouragement...

[Sarah-Sally]

I agree, Pachacutec. Although I haven't worked with any Muslims that I can think of, those whom I've met have been fine people. In general I believe that ignorance breeds prejudice. For anyone to treat another person in this manner is terrible - but for a business to permit this is inconceivable to me. It reminds me of an old Italian neighbor explaining to me - once she learned that I respected her - why she was reluctant to deal with strangers. It stemmed from the rude treatment she received when first in her new country.
But now the ignorant have new fodder.

[Sarah-Sally]

And Wally, I live in Bethlehem but never heard about the dancing & chanting you describe. Did you actually see this? Somehow I doubt it.

[90VETTE]

Sounds to me like the lawyers see $$.
Why would a muslim want to eat at McDonalds?
Maybe the Muslims should start shunning their radicals in an effort to show us they do not approve of the tactics used by extremists & the ignorant will get the hint and maybe leave them alone.

[miles]

I thought Muslims didnt eat meat?? Maybe Im wrong. I think this story is a little exaggerated!!

[Come On]

You make a good point. This case is a waste of the courts time. What will happen next? You going to sue everyone that looks at you the wrong way?

90VETTE wrote:

Sounds to me like the lawyers see $$.
Why would a muslim want to eat at McDonalds?
Maybe the Muslims should start shunning their radicals in an effort to show us they do not approve of the tactics used by extremists & the ignorant will get the hint and maybe leave them alone.

[Herman]

If this results in me paying more for a chicken biscuit, I'm going to be angry.

[Pachacutec]

90VETTE wrote:

Sounds to me like the lawyers see $$.
Why would a muslim want to eat at McDonalds?
Maybe the Muslims should start shunning their radicals in an effort to show us they do not approve of the tactics used by extremists & the ignorant will get the hint and maybe leave them alone.

As I'd posted earlier, many Muslims came to the US (legally, I might add) to get away from terrorist regimes and dictators. However, as many of them still have family and friends in their home countries, they fear to speak out too much against the dictators because their families might be harmed. As for the ignorant leaving them alone, no, I doubt it; there are always people who stereotype a group by the actions of a few. My boss is a foreign-born Muslim and I've enjoyed working for him more than I have for some of the "red-blooded American" bosses I've had in the past; he's a brilliant person, a compassionate and fair employer, a hard worker, and he and his family give a lot to their community (through volunteer work, etc). Unfortunately, there's a lot of close-minded people out there who'd see him and just think "Oh, he's one of THEM." Again, I have to wonder; how many of the people who post the racist remarks about Muslims, who repeat all of the old stereotypes, actually KNOW anyone who's Muslim?

[Terry of Pennsburg]

I cannot figure out why people who is born here in this country (which I am born here to and a decent from Germany) is so DISCRIMINATING? This country is founded on the bases of IMMIGRANTS and we all are from another country. The true American Native people of this country is the Indians, not us.

We all need to stop Discriminate against each other (we are not 200 years old, but of the present), and start to except each other. We all are basically the same, no matter what your culture is.

[Anonymous]

Don’t stop at harassing them out of McDonald’s and WalMart.
Keep harassing them until they leave the country.

[Mom of 4]

If this happened as described, it is despicable, and McDonald's manager should face the consequences.

However...that one incident caused this woman to be unable to nurse her baby? Celebrate her anniversary? Sounds like she's got some deeper seated issues!

[Scott D]

The Aug. 10, 2007, incident upset Walli so much that she cries uncontrollably, can't nurse her newborn son and couldn't celebrate her wedding anniversary, according to the complaint"

What a crock of BS!! This is a waste of the courts time. This is almost as bad as suing for hot coffee. If mcd's is the only way to celebrate her wedding anniversary, she needs to learn spanish so we can up her welfare credit.

[CARSASM]

You know, I don't buy this. Just about every time I go to a McDonald's there is a pretty ethnically diverse crown behind the counter.

I find it hard to believe there was a refusal of service. It certainly may have happened, but unfortunately, without more evidence, this a all she-said, they-said stuff.

I wish all involved better in the future.

[CARSASM]

Correction: "ethnically diverse crowd"

Pardon me.

[Pachacutec]

Terry of Pennsburg wrote:

I cannot figure out why people who is born here in this country (which I am born here to and a decent from Germany) is so DISCRIMINATING? This country is founded on the bases of IMMIGRANTS and we all are from another country. The true American Native people of this country is the Indians, not us.
We all need to stop Discriminate against each other (we are not 200 years old, but of the present), and start to except each other. We all are basically the same, no matter what your culture is.

As a descendant of PA Dutch/Irish/Scotch Welsh heritage, I agree with you completely! And not only has our country grown and prospered with its population of people of many lands - with the increased communication technology, travel, corporate expansion, etc., our world is becoming rapidly smaller and more and more interactive; even in smaller businesses, it's becoming very common to deal with people in other countries. Those who choose not to associate with people who are "different" from them are going to be very, very uncomfortable in the coming years.

[Tiger Tom]

Terry of Pennsburg wrote:

The true American Native people of this country is the Indians, not us.

And they were not even native to here they were from Asia and crossed the frozen Bering Straight into Alaska

Terry of Pennsburg wrote:

We all need to stop Discriminate against each other (we are not 200 years old, but of the present), and start to accept each other. We all are basically the same, no matter what your culture is.

Agreed whole Heartedly

[Wiser Time]

I don't think it was personal, most McDonald's you go to anymore the staff treats ALL the customers like garbage. They're rude and act very annoyed that you make them do their job. I went through the drive-thru on day and was greeted with "what you want".