Hamdia Ahmed (pictured) claimed she and her family felt discriminated against after they were accused of 'yelling' and told to le...
Hamdia Ahmed (pictured) claimed she and her family felt discriminated against after they were accused of 'yelling' and told to leave Dunkin' Donuts by staff members
Hamdia posted a picture of the staff member who told her to stop yelling and to leave the store
Dunkin Donuts apologized to a college student after one of its employees called the police in an altercation that she said began when she stopped at a drive-thru with her family and the attendant heard them speaking Somali.
On Monday, 20-year-old Hamdia Ahmed tried placing a coffee order in the drive-thru of a Dunkin’ Donuts located in Portland, Maine, when an employee became enraged over the loudspeaker.
“We were speaking in our native language before we even spoke through the microphone to place our order. Out of nowhere, the shift manager screamed at us and said, ‘Stop yelling, leave or I’m calling the cops,’” Ahmed wrote on Facebook. “I was surprised to hear this because we weren’t even doing anything. The shift manager told us to leave and she was calling the police. She also refused to take our order.”
Hamdia posted a picture of the staff member who told her to stop yelling and to leave the store
The University of Southern Maine student parked, leaving her older brother and mother in the car, and went inside the store to inquire why the police were called. “I also wanted to let this woman know that her behavior was unacceptable,” Ahmed tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “And I decided to wait for the police.”
Ahmed alleges other customers began filming the altercation and says one left the store saying, “I’m not buying coffee here — this is straight-up racism.”
The store at St John Street where Ahmed and her family members were told to leave
Ahmed explained in her Facebook post that after speaking to police officers, she was initially issued a no-trespass order for “disturbance and yelling at a staff.” According to the Portland Press Herald, Ahmed’s order bans her from the John Street location for one year.
“The only crime we committed was speaking in our native language,” wrote Ahmed. “Languages come in a different tone and this woman felt like we were a threat to her. This is America and everyone should have the right to speak in their native language. Unbelievable.”
Ahmed also posted a Facebook video of the argument. “Don’t talk to me like that when I was talking to my family in my language,” she says into the drive-thru microphone. “You’re going to disrespect me because I speak a different language than you? Is that what it is?”
The employee responds, “It has nothing to do with your language. You can leave. I don’t want to hear it. I’m done with it. You can leave, or I’ll call the cops.”
According to the news outlet, store owner Dave DaRosa apologized to Ahmed on Wednesday and he revoked the “No Trespass” order.
“He gave a sincere apology,” Ahmet told the Press Herald. “He acknowledged that the police should have never been called.”
The paper also published a statement from Dunkin Donuts’ corporate office: “Dunkin’ and our franchisees are committed to creating a positive customer service experience for all of our guests. The franchisee who owns and operates the store has confirmed he has met with the guest, sincerely apologized to her for the poor experience and is working on providing additional customer service training to his store crew.”
I know it is difficult to understand but different cultures have different traditions and behaviour. To an Englishman, Americans are incredibly aggressive and confrontational. We do not hold a gaze and stare people in the eye. To an American, the English are shifty, they won't look you in the eye.
ReplyDeleteIn Africa it is considered extremely bad manners to whisper and to hide what you are saying from those around you. As I am hard of hearing, I find it very ill-mannered that people do not speak to me clearly and directly. They are constantly mumbling and whispering.
As a child, one was expected to address older people clearly and loudly without shouting.
"How about assimilating and modulating your voice to be American like instead of Somali?" would that be like in Chicago, or in New York or in Texas? There is no American voice, heck 30% only speak Spanish.
Except that the woman never accused the worker of racism.
ReplyDelete99% of all commercial complaints have to do with bad service and arrogant workers, nothing to do with racism.
It always amazes me how "immigrants" will be the first to demand their "rights" and that this is America! But you go to their country...you'd better tow the line no matter what.
ReplyDeleteHave you heard these people talking on the phone on a bus?!!!! They are yelling. How about assimilating and modulating your voice to be American like instead of Somali? Own it, you're loud! Not racist, you're loud! Own it!
You missed the point entirely!!! We're talking volume...not the liberal progressive agenda! Just tone it all down!
ReplyDeleteAmerica is SO racist you best take yo sef back to Somalia where you be treated right.
ReplyDeleteNo shit Sherlock!
ReplyDelete