Pinay nurse ridiculed, called mail-order bride

[yankee 0]

To all VJs,

I got this at GMA site and thought worth sharing. AN EYE-OPENER TO ALL OF US..

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/113641/Pinay-n...ail-order-bride

CHICAGO, Illinois – The Filipina nurse and retired US Air Force Reserve staff sergeant who was allegedly called a “mail-order bride" by a salesman in a Chicago retail shop is determined to get justice in a settlement conference next month.

Frannie L. Richards said she was shopping at the Swedish retail giant H&M (Hennes & Mauritz) last October when a male employee in his “20’s to early 30’s" raised his right hand and said, “Mail-order bride in the house" and ran toward a fellow employee before they started laughing.

Since there was no other shopper “within three or four racks of me," Ms. Richards, said she was “shocked and disgusted" these white employees implied “I was a ####### and could not understand why he would say anything so derogatory."

“I felt like crying but refused to give him the satisfaction. I had a red bag and was wearing black pants and a long denim coat. I am an Asian American woman," she said.

Because she wanted to get the names of the two employees, Ms. Richards approached them and asked if she could try clothes on. The man rudely pointed to the fitting rooms and said, “Can’t you read that sign, it says ‘fitting room.’"

As she walked away, the man started muttering under his breath and making a mocking noise like “ching, ching, chong." Richards said she felt degraded and upset.

Because of her frustration, she asked to talk to a department manager named Tom who could not even provide her the name of the offending employee.

Because she felt helpless, she left. But her friends convinced her to go back and get the name of the “harasser." When she came back, she was accompanied by a friend as a witness.

She looked for another manager. This time, Greg, could only tell her that his harassing subordinate would first “get a verbal warning, and if it happens again, then, it would be written down." She said she was told the employee’s name is “Joseph H." whose position is called “visual merchandiser."

April Lewton, Richards’ lawyer, said she is “pleased to hear of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations’ findings of substantial evidence of a violation in the case of Frannie Richards v. H & M, and we look forward to justice being served at the settlement conference in mid-September."

Ms. Lewton, an Asian-American Institute community organizer, said, “(the) finding of substantial evidence means that there is enough evidence for the case to proceed to an administrative hearing."

She added, “The settlement conference is an opportunity for the two parties to reach an agreement prior to the administrative hearing."

Because she wanted Joseph H fired, Ms. Richards filed a discrimination complaint against him for violating “Chapter 2-160 of the Chicago Municipal Code."

The said law guards against discrimination, including anti-Asian and sex-based discrimination, when discriminatory incident takes place in Chicago and involves employment, housing, public accommodations, credit or bonding.

She was initially assisted by lawyer Myron Dean Quon, Asian American Institute legal director. Mr. Quon commented then, “Anti-Asian, xenophobic and misogynist verbal attacks still happen on a daily basis. Asian American women, like Ms. Richards, should never have to deal with this type of harassment, in Chicago no less."

“I knew that I had to enforce my civil rights for myself and other Asian American women. Because H & M refused to discipline this employee, I immediately thought of my own female relatives and friends. The workplace usage of disparaging anti-Asian slurs should require the termination of that H & M employee," Ms. Richards insisted.

She earlier said that if the case is not settled before Chicago Commission on Human Relations, she is ready to elevate the matter up to the Cook County Circuit Court, where she will seek damages for emotional distress, injunctive relief, attorney’s fees, costs.

When news of the incident broke out, Filipino and other human rights activists picketed the front of the H & M, which even hired a Filipino - American lawyer to help the retail giant's legal defense.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I hope she sues and wins, setting a precedent for that store to make sure their employees are well versed in treating all customers with dignity and respect. F###ing idiots.

[envy_me 18]

wow! :blink:

that guys is sick.. tsk, tsk..

i hope he gets fired..

Edited August 15, 2008 by envy_me

[RickieAndEva 0]

Interesting article. I cant belive this kind of thing is still going on. Well actually I can. I remember in the mid to late seventies growing up here in the states (I'm Filipino-American by the way) running into alot of racist people and racist situations. I would be called jap, chink, china-man, ######, slant eye--anything other than what I really am. They were very ignorant in those day. I have so many stories of an asian boy struggling in an all white school. It took a while to be accepted. I thought thing would be much better these days. Schools are much more integrated these days, especially here in California. To here of young adult in a public place would make such comments is very discouraging.

Edited August 15, 2008 by RickieAndEva

[luv2uallday 1]

To all VJs,

I got this at GMA site and thought worth sharing. AN EYE-OPENER TO ALL OF US..

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/113641/Pinay-n...ail-order-bride

CHICAGO, Illinois – The Filipina nurse and retired US Air Force Reserve staff sergeant who was allegedly called a “mail-order bride" by a salesman in a Chicago retail shop is determined to get justice in a settlement conference next month.

Frannie L. Richards said she was shopping at the Swedish retail giant H&M (Hennes & Mauritz) last October when a male employee in his “20’s to early 30’s" raised his right hand and said, “Mail-order bride in the house" and ran toward a fellow employee before they started laughing.

Since there was no other shopper “within three or four racks of me," Ms. Richards, said she was “shocked and disgusted" these white employees implied “I was a ####### and could not understand why he would say anything so derogatory."

“I felt like crying but refused to give him the satisfaction. I had a red bag and was wearing black pants and a long denim coat. I am an Asian American woman," she said.

Because she wanted to get the names of the two employees, Ms. Richards approached them and asked if she could try clothes on. The man rudely pointed to the fitting rooms and said, “Can’t you read that sign, it says ‘fitting room.’"

As she walked away, the man started muttering under his breath and making a mocking noise like “ching, ching, chong." Richards said she felt degraded and upset.

Because of her frustration, she asked to talk to a department manager named Tom who could not even provide her the name of the offending employee.

Because she felt helpless, she left. But her friends convinced her to go back and get the name of the “harasser." When she came back, she was accompanied by a friend as a witness.

She looked for another manager. This time, Greg, could only tell her that his harassing subordinate would first “get a verbal warning, and if it happens again, then, it would be written down." She said she was told the employee’s name is “Joseph H." whose position is called “visual merchandiser."

April Lewton, Richards’ lawyer, said she is “pleased to hear of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations’ findings of substantial evidence of a violation in the case of Frannie Richards v. H & M, and we look forward to justice being served at the settlement conference in mid-September."

Ms. Lewton, an Asian-American Institute community organizer, said, “(the) finding of substantial evidence means that there is enough evidence for the case to proceed to an administrative hearing."

She added, “The settlement conference is an opportunity for the two parties to reach an agreement prior to the administrative hearing."

Because she wanted Joseph H fired, Ms. Richards filed a discrimination complaint against him for violating “Chapter 2-160 of the Chicago Municipal Code."

The said law guards against discrimination, including anti-Asian and sex-based discrimination, when discriminatory incident takes place in Chicago and involves employment, housing, public accommodations, credit or bonding.

She was initially assisted by lawyer Myron Dean Quon, Asian American Institute legal director. Mr. Quon commented then, “Anti-Asian, xenophobic and misogynist verbal attacks still happen on a daily basis. Asian American women, like Ms. Richards, should never have to deal with this type of harassment, in Chicago no less."

“I knew that I had to enforce my civil rights for myself and other Asian American women. Because H & M refused to discipline this employee, I immediately thought of my own female relatives and friends. The workplace usage of disparaging anti-Asian slurs should require the termination of that H & M employee," Ms. Richards insisted.

She earlier said that if the case is not settled before Chicago Commission on Human Relations, she is ready to elevate the matter up to the Cook County Circuit Court, where she will seek damages for emotional distress, injunctive relief, attorney’s fees, costs.

When news of the incident broke out, Filipino and other human rights activists picketed the front of the H & M, which even hired a Filipino - American lawyer to help the retail giant's legal defense.

even though what they said is reprehensale and disgusting. It doesn't rise to the bar of a lawsuit or shouldn't. People are offended everyday does that mean everyone should be sued? that is crazy this is political correctness gone wild here..... I have been in this situation before do u see me running to a lawyer? We all have to face this in life... I'm tired of seeing people decry foul and run to a lawyer everytime their feelings are hurt.... I know my opinion is not popular but I don't care.... We as americans need to grow a thick skin grow up and push back no cry like a baby.......

[envy_me 18]

even though what they said is reprehensale and disgusting. It doesn't rise to the bar of a lawsuit or shouldn't. People are offended everyday does that mean everyone should be sued? that is crazy this is political correctness gone wild here..... I have been in this situation before do u see me running to a lawyer? We all have to face this in life... I'm tired of seeing people decry foul and run to a lawyer everytime their feelings are hurt.... I know my opinion is not popular but I don't care.... We as americans need to grow a thick skin grow up and push back no cry like a baby.......

the guy was at his workplace, where everybody should act as professionals and NOT as idiots..

Edited August 15, 2008 by envy_me

[~bLairwhich~ 0]

No one is better than the others. I think that guy who insulted Ms. Richards is maleducated. How about remarks to him like that? Don't judge if you don't want to be judged! I hope he will learn his lesson and learned how to respect people. H&M should not tolerate their employees, customers are those who bring them bucks and should they be protecting!

[eros_EX_Plumber 0]

No one is better than the others. I think that guy who insulted Ms. Richards is maleducated. How about remarks to him like that? Don't judge if you don't want to be judged! I hope he will learn his lesson and learned how to respect people. H&M should not tolerate their employees, customers are those who bring them bucks and should they be protecting!

Tell them how you feel....at their corporate web site;

http://www.hm.com/us/abouthmcom/contact__c...eresponsibility

I did and pasted the link with the article......

I am sure it will fun in that Chicago store...once they receive enough complaints.

[envy_me 18]

it's funny when i checked their site..

on the CSR reporting part, it says..

"RESPECT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL" :whistle:

Edited August 15, 2008 by envy_me

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Interesting article. I cant belive this kind of thing is still going on. Well actually I can. I remember in the mid to late seventies growing up here in the states (I'm Filipino-American by the way) running into alot of racist people and racist situations. I would be called jap, chink, china-man, ######, slant eye--anything other than what I really am. They were very ignorant in those day. I have so many stories of an asian boy struggling in an all white school. It took a while to be accepted. I thought thing would be much better these days. Schools are much more integrated these days, especially here in California. To here of young adult in a public place would make such comments is very discouraging.

Oh man, that's terrible. I grew up in the Phoenix area and we didn't have very many asian students. I remember a Filipino classmate of mine HS - he was actually quite popular, good in sports and quite a lady's man that I recall.

[AllRightsReserved 0]

An overdose shot of Thorazine will shut his mouth or even send him to hell!

[envy_me 18]

An overdose shot of Thorazine will shut his mouth or even send him to hell!

i think il sew his lips close.. to shut his mouth..

Edited August 15, 2008 by envy_me

[DARUMA07 25]

Hang him by the balls...............

[Ronnie and Kris 0]

Ignorance is everywhere. I hope this is an example to others that have a mind to show their ignorance.

[dbears 1]

even though what they said is reprehensale and disgusting. It doesn't rise to the bar of a lawsuit or shouldn't. People are offended everyday does that mean everyone should be sued? that is crazy this is political correctness gone wild here..... I have been in this situation before do u see me running to a lawyer? We all have to face this in life... I'm tired of seeing people decry foul and run to a lawyer everytime their feelings are hurt.... I know my opinion is not popular but I don't care.... We as americans need to grow a thick skin grow up and push back no cry like a baby.......

Choosing to be a doormat and just taking in whatever insults, hurts and humiliations are thrown your way is your choice but to chose to be able to live with respect and dignity is also a choice. If Ms. Richards will just let the harasser go unpunished he would think that it is ALWAYS ok to mock and humiliate other people from other race since they would only take all the beatings without complain.

You are right, we do face insults and derogatory comments in this life (no matter where we are) but if you won't learn to stand up for yourself it will only continue and will even get worst. You remind me of a classmate long time ago.. in grade school, he was always picked on but he just took it all without resistance until he was thrown to a pit and us girls had to take a stand for him. The boys said, it was ok with him coz he was not complaining anyway. The sad part is the boys even thought he liked being picked on or being the butt of joke because he never said anything against it.

I have been teaching my kids to chose their battle well, to just let go of minor disputes or little teasing but to stand up when they are kicked below the belt. I have been teaching them never to inflict harm on anyone but NEVER to receive it without complain. I have been teaching my kids to chose their battle well. Being insulted that way, and in public at that is just something that I would want my kids to stand up against and something that I would also not take sitting down.

If everybody will have your way of thinking, if everybody will think that it is ok just becoz it is the way of the world. If Rosa Parks and the Loving couple have your way of thinking and didn't stood up for themselves, do you think you will have america as it is right now? VJ won't probably even exist.

There may still be racial discrimination but compared to before the time of Rosa Parks I would believe, it has been lesser. Yes, there are still people who raise eyebrows to interracial couples but at least it is not illegal to be in an interracial relationship now and there are more and more people who accepts it, all thanks becoz one couple chose to fight and hold on to their love.

What happened to Ms. Richards was public humiliation and I am applauding her for fighting back in the right way. What she is doing is not only for herself but will also benefit not only asians but also people from other race.

Edited August 15, 2008 by dbears