“I Wish They Didn’t Let You In The Country”: Video Shows Woman Allegedly Abusing Muslim In Store Line

There is a disturbing video just posted on an encounter of a Muslim woman with another woman at the Trader Joe’s in Reston, Virginia — not far from my home.  On the video below, the rude woman allegedly tells the Muslim “I wish they didn’t let you in the country” during their encounter on Saturday.  The Muslim woman is a friend of comedian Jeremy McLellan and he shared the videotape.  He said that his friend was wearing a hijab identifying her as a Muslim.  Since the woman is clearly shown, the question is whether the woman has a case if she is falsely depicted.  Conversely, we have previously discussed whether people should be disciplined by employers for conduct or statements in their private lives.

It is sad to think that such an encounter would occur today but clearly it does.  Ironically, the Muslim woman had allowed the abusive woman to cut the line.  When she informs the woman that she is from this country, the rude woman responds with “Obama’s not in office anymore.  You don’t have a Muslim in there anymore.”

What is interesting legally is how the rude woman will respond. She is clearly shown on the videotape, which has not been authenticated in any legal sense. If the videotape is falsified, she could obviously sue for false light, defamation and other claims.  It is incredibly sad to think that Muslims have to put up with such prejudices and insults in this country.  I would not have remained silent if I had heard such offensive remarks in front of me in line.  In the video, the woman insists that she is entirely “normal.”  I am happily confident that that is not true, but that does not mean that this type of abuse is uncommon.

What do you think?