Jim Crow Lives In Maryland

Muslim Woman Asked to Leave Line at Credit Union Because of Head Scarf

Credit Union Apologizes to Woman Over Head Scarf
ST. MARY'S COUNTY: Muslim Woman Asked to Leave Line at Credit Union Because of Head Scarf
The incident at the Navy Federal Credit Union on Saturday was the second in a month for Kenza Shelley, and Muslim advocates fear it could become a problem nationwide as many financial institutions, intent on curbing robberies and identity theft, ban hats and similar items without appropriate accommodations for religious attire.

"This may be the tip of the iceberg," said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations. "There's got to be a way to work it out so that this security concern does not lead to violations of constitutional rights."

Shelley, 54, who runs a day care out of her home in Lexington Park, said she has used the credit union in the St. Mary's County community of California for more than 10 years. Until February, no employees had complained about her head scarf, which covers her hair but not her face. But a few weeks ago, she said, she was standing in line to deposit a check when an employee asked her to come to the back room, referring to a new policy that prohibited hats, hoods and sunglasses. She complied but asked whether she would have to go through the same process each time she made a transaction.

On Saturday, Shelley said, employees again asked her to come to the back room if she would not remove her head scarf. "No," she recalled telling them, "I want to be served like everybody else."

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My bank has a similar "no hat/sunglasses/hooded shirt" policy, but they've never given me trouble about a hat.

fuck..that is extreme..in Ontario they just get bent out of shape if you are barefoot..I could wear a gorilla costume and still get served

I have never walked into a bank wearing sunglasses or a hoodie. It's just common sense to me....

People still go to banks? What do they do there?

I don't see this as having anything remotely related to Jim Crow. If someone hangs the 10 commandments outside, people go ape shit. But if someone of any other faith than Christianity does something, it's somehow okay. Sorry, the bank is protecting themselves and her interests by not allowing someone unidentifiable from walking in. If you want to live and practice customs from an assbackwards society, you should stay in that society. Women aren't second class citizens in the United States. Jim Crow banned people from establishments and treated them differently under the law based on the color of their skin. This is a quasi-private company choosing to enforce sensible precautions. If we're going to claim it's a public place due to its federal insurance or aide, we have the seperation of church and state to fall back on as is so commonly flaunted. Move along, nothing to see here.

^^That is a red herring. Posting the 10 commandments in a government building is an endorsement of Christianity. Denying access to a public place because of ceremonial dress is discrimination. The woman was wearing a head scarf, not wearing glasses... her face was not hidden by the scarf. Meanwhile, in other news, in a court that US dollars paid for in Afghanistan, a man who was originally sentenced to death for blasphemy, has had his sentenced reduced to 20 years. After it was shown that one of the prosecuting witnesses lied during the proceeding, the case was re-examined by 3 clerics. His attorney wasn't allowed to present new evidence, and the case was decided before the trial took place. The guys charge... distributing information on womens rights. Why the fuck are we propping up such tyranny? Fuck those assholes! it would be a lot cheaper to invest in cruise missles and bomb the fuckers.

I'm all for that, but most people would oppose an outright war.

so she wears a scarf that covers her hair... big deal. She's no fuckin' taliban! her face is pretty recognizable. besides, she has a 10 years history with that company so they shouldn't be so hard on her, imo.

i'd put more trust in a muslim woman who wears a scarf than in a young guy who wears a hoodie!