Phoenix, AZ – A woman says a Jewish community center fired her after ordering her not to speak Spanish to her clients or on the telephone, though employees were allowed to speak Portuguese and Hebrew.
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Vanessa Santiago says the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center retaliated for her complaints of discrimination by refusing to allow her to apply for a promotion.
Santiago was an exercise instructor.
In her federal complaint, Santiago says her boss harassed and discriminated against her, demanding her “green card” and telling her “the only reason persons of Puerto Rican heritage come to the mainland is to get food stamps and beer.”
Santiago says she complained about the harassment and was fired in retaliation.
Santiago is represented by James M. Jellison.
Her boss may not have been tactful or polite, but he sure was right!
The JCC should fire the adminstrator who fired Ms.Santiago. What hypocricy. they should also be prepared for the legal expense of a civil rights investigation. You cannot discriminate this way. She was not talking Spanish to someone who didn’t understand the languge. She was talking to people who wanted to converse in Spanish. they also allowed Isrealis to speak in Hebrew but disallowed Spanish. Come on, yidden shouldn;t be racists or even appear that way.
Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens by Federal Law and don’t require a green card. Why such lack of respect for the “island of enchantment”?
As Jews, considering what we have gone through over such a long time, it is absolutely disgusting that someone would behave in this manner towards this person. It wasn’t too long ago that our parents or grandparents were being fired every single Friday afternoon. Has everyone forgotten that?
And is there no chance at all that she’s making up the part about harassment??
If she was talking to someone in Spanish, obviously that person speaks Spanish, so what is wrong? If someone spoke Yiddish or French to someone who speaks those languages, it would be okay also. What I don’t like is when I get someone on the phone who can barely speak English properly or understandably. Puerto Ricans are American citizens, by the way, and are legal here without a green card.
As one that attends the JCC very frequently, I can assure you the story never happened
I amazes me that in this day and age people are still stupid enough to act so blatantly racist when it comes to employees. Have’nt people learned that it could very likely turn out to be a very expensive act in futility?
If this case ever makes it up to the Supreme Court you can be sure that Justice Sotomayor will not be pleased.
Again, people, we do not know the facts!!! And I’m always initially inclined to side with my Jewish Brothers and Sisters! Jews, wake up and stick to ur family first already
# 14, If so – you are just Ignorant. Sometimes we are right, somtimes we are wrong.
two reactions:
1. You can’t make this stuff up or
2. Are people really that stupid to discriminate like this?
I’m inclined to think it didn’t happen, not because Jews aren’t racist (we are as much as anyone else) but because if other languages are permitted, why not Spanish? Unless this woman was just talking to her friends when she should have been working.
Things are never so clear-cut.
i dont get it …if peurto ricans are legal and they dont need agreen card then why do we call them illegal immigrants?
No one is taking sides, all some are saying if the story is true, the guy is a moron.
The JCC helps people in need, and therefore they will get many who do not speak English or can more effectively explain their story in the mother tongue.
I sure we all like that sometimes if one grew up speaking Yiddish
I think it is racist since he permitted other languages
I am not sure it is even legal to say only English.