Michigan Orchard Owner Sued for Anti-Muslim Remarks
A Muslim man who endured bigoted remarks from the owner of an orchard he was visiting earlier this month filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Monroe County against the owner, Steve Elzinga, and Erie Orchards and Cider Mill.
The 11-count lawsuit was brought by Dearborn attorney Abdallah Moughni on behalf of Joe (Yousef) Mahmoud, of Ypsilanti, who alleges that Elzinga forcibly tried to imprison him in a dispute over payment of picked fruit, intimidated him because of his ethnicity and caused emotional distress. The lawsuit alleges the owner violated the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.
Elzinga apologized earlier for his remarks and actions.
"Mahmoud remained as calm as possible throughout this degradations as he reasonably believed he would be seriously injured or murdered in front of his family if he upset the proud and blatant racist defendant Steve Elzinga," the lawsuit reads. "A reasonable Muslim in similar circumstances to plaintiff Joe Mahmoud would believe that they were in danger of physical harm. Further ... Elzinga conducted an illegal search of Plaintiffs’ vehicle, diaper bag, and trunk bed."
An employee who answered the phone Tuesday said she could not comment and that Elzinga was not available. Elzinga has previously apologized for telling Mahmoud, who is Muslim, "Every Muslim that comes in here steals from me." The remarks were captured on video shot by Mahmoud.
Elzinga told the Monroe News last week: "I should never have said a generalized comment about Muslims being thieves and coming here to take advantage of us because that's not true. I regret that I made those kinds of statements. It's just not me. We've been here for 45 years and have always been open to everybody."
Mahmoud went to the orchard Aug. 13 with his wife and three daughters to pick fruit. He said he purchased about $70 worth of pre-picked fruit and candy and then asked if they could pick fruit on their own. Mahmoud said an employee told him most of the fruit left in the orchard was rotten, but if they wanted to, they could pick some and take it home for free. After picking some fruit and heading back to his car, Mahmoud said, Elzinga confronted them and made derogatory remarks about Muslims stealing.
"The family hopes this lawsuit will make all business owners think twice before discriminating against any minority," Moughni told the Free Press.
On the orchard's website, an apology signed by Elzinga with the headline "My Deepest Apologies" reads: "My sincere apologies to Joe Mahmoud, his wife, family, and the whole community for my remarks and actions on Sunday, August 13. I am very sorry. As a family business we have made a conscious effort to be a welcoming place for all in an often fractured world, and Sunday’s incident, sadly, did not reflect that. What occurred does not align with my values, beliefs, and heart of inclusion for everyone. I sincerely regret this and offer my deepest apologies."
Source: freep.com
