BOSTON — The owner of an upscale Boston store told a black man he ‘didn’t want his kind in the store,’ according to a lawsuit filed by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.
Attorney General Maura Healey has filed a lawsuit against Sam Hassan, the owner of the Back Bay store The Tannery, alleging racial discrimination.
Healey’s lawsuit cites two complaints from December 2017 and March 2017 involving two separate individuals.
In one incident, a black man tried to enter the store, but the owner allegedly blocked him from entering and told him to spend his money elsewhere. Hassan also allegedly implied the man couldn't afford to shop there and told him ‘he didn’t want [his] kind in [the] store.’
In the other incident, a Middle Eastern woman harassed by Hassan while shopping in the store.
Hassan allegedly told the woman, “I love Trump! I am glad he is going to get rid of all the immigrants.” He also allegedly told the woman he doesn’t trust immigrants.
The AG’s Office has reason to believe that the experiences of the two victims are part of a larger pattern of discrimination. Members of the public are encouraged to contact the AG’s Civil Rights Division at (617) 963-2917 or www.mass.gov/ago/civilrightscomplaint.
We were not immediately able to reach Hassan for comment.
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