Racial Bias an Affront to Discrimination Law

Poplar Bluff, MOVarious examples of religious discrimination and the lawsuits that have ensued show the breadth and power of discrimination law. Religion discrimination holds no sway in a contemporary, educated and tolerant society.

There are many examples of this, together with the reality that some discrimination takes the form of harassment.

Brenda Thompson is a member of an evangelical, nondenominational church who was hailed as a 'devil-worshipper' by her co-workers at a Mount Airy, Virginia carport dealer. The insensitive co-workers also referred to her religion as a 'cult.'

Thompson is at the foundation of a religious discrimination lawsuit against her employer for failing to respond to her complaints.

Then there is the case of plaintiff Rhonda Pressley, who has filed a religious discrimination suit against her employer over an allegation that Good Friday receives preferential treatment over Jewish holidays.

Pressley, who was formerly appellate section chief with the Child Support Division in the office of the Attorney General for the state of Texas, cites state government code 662.003 and 662.006 that provides for the right of a state employee to take a paid day from work for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur or Good Friday. However, as part of the statute a state employee taking such a day is required to give up a corresponding state holiday during the same fiscal year, to compensate.

The plaintiff claims, however that employees in the office of the Attorney General were allowed to take Good Friday afternoons off without making up the day elsewhere—but employees observing Jewish holidays were not afforded the same courtesy. The office of the Attorney General for Texas has stated that Pressley was terminated for unprofessional conduct. However, the plaintiff claims she was fired because she filed a formal complaint on grounds of religious discrimination, together with a complaint that her supervisor favored male employees.

The lawsuit is before the courts.

The most colorful, but by no means insignificant example of such affronts to discrimination law surrounds Deborah Smith, a former librarian assistant in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

It seems her employer was planning an event to promote the publication of the latest Harry Potter book at the time, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' in July 2007. Librarians were asked to dress as wizards for the event.

Smith, who was reported as being of the opinion that the Harry Potter books encourage occult worship, refused to participate on religious grounds. Library Director Jacqueline Thomas subsequently offered to allow Smith the chance to participate 'behind the scenes,' in a fashion that would not expose her participation to her church community.

When Smith refused to even do that, she was fired.

After filing a religious discrimination complaint, Smith settled out of court with her former employer by way of mediation in February. The settlement: $45,000, which was for damages rather than lost wages.

Critics have suggested the Smith might have overreacted and sealed her own fate by making a mountain out of a molehill. However, her complaint made clear that, "…Plaintiff has a bona fide religious belief stemming from her Christian identity and membership in a Southern Baptist church that she sincerely believes prohibits her from being involved in promotion of the worship of the occult, especially to children."

A basic tenet of American freedom and liberty is the right to worship freely, without discrimination. Discrimination law exists to protect against such religion discrimination, regardless of the severity. What might be interpreted as a minor annoyance to one could be a big deal to someone else. If you have been negatively affected by religious discrimination, please talk to a qualified attorney to learn about your rights and options.