Two black men are accusing Apple of racial discrimination, after they say they were kicked out of the Upper West Side Apple store because of their race.
The two men, Brian Johnston, 34, and Nile Charles, 25, said they went into the store went into the store on Dec. 9, 2010 wearing “baggy jeans and large sweaters with hoods” to buy headphones, according to the website Apple Insider. The very big employee — 6’2″, 225 pounds — who approached them told them to leave the store unless they were planning to buy something or seek help. The employee then got extra saucy, according to the complaint:
“And before you say I’m racially discriminating against you, let me stop you. I am discriminating against you,” the lawsuit claims he said. “I don’t want ‘your kind’ hanging out in the store.”
Then another Apple employee approached them and said “Now you have to go. If you want to know why, it’s because I said so. CONSIDER ME GOD. You have to go.” I mean, the company’s doing pretty well, but I thought only Steve Jobs was allowed to be called God. I had no idea that honor was conferred on all employees.
The two men claim they used their cellphones to record at least part of their confrontation with the Apple employees.
The suit, which charges Apple with discrimination under New York and federal civil rights laws, was filed in February in New York court, but was recently transferred to federal court, says Apple Insider.
This is the same store where Richard Belzer had an altercation with an employee last year.
Photo by Photo Giddy via flickr.
