Discrimination by a Business

State and Federal civil rights laws prohibit places of public accommodation from discriminating against people based on race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, or disability.

Missouri, Illinois, and Federal laws each define “place of public accommodation” differently, but generally place of public accommodation means a business that sells goods or services to the general public. Hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, movie theaters, sports arenas, airlines, public parks, and government offices are all examples of places of public accommodation.

Places of public accommodation should be available to the public. Discrimination occurs when a person is denied access or service in one of these places based on their race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, or disability.

What does public accommodation discrimination look like?

Discrimination takes many forms; sometimes it is obvious, other times it is more covert. Here are some examples of what public accommodation discrimination can look like.

Race and Skin Color

A server in a restaurant continues to ignore a table of mostly Black diners. The server waits on all the other tables and checks back several times before even greeting the diners. The diners flag down the manager to tell her they are being ignored and ask for help getting service, but the manager angrily tells the diners to stop complaining or leave.

Being given inferior service because of your race/skin color is illegal discrimination.

Religion

National Origin and Ancestry

Sex and Gender

Disability

Have you been subjected to discrimination?

The attorneys at Beck & Grant protect the rights of people who have been denied access or refused service by businesses open to the public. If you believe a place of public accommodation discriminated against you because of your race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, or disability, we may be able to help. Click here for a free case evaluation.