The company that operates a privately owned parking ramp in Jersey City, N.J., has agreed to stop giving religious discounts to ramp users after the Freedom From Religion Foundation complained on behalf of one of its more than 300 members in New Jersey.
The complainant noticed a sign that offered "special parking up to 10 hours" for $5 at the Journal Square Ramp on Saturdays and Sundays for Jehovah's Witnesses, who worship at a nearby Assembly Hall. The price for the general public was $8.
Rebecca Kratz Markert, Foundation staff attorney, wrote a Sept. 4 letter to Harwood Properties, which owns the ramp:
"Providing discounts only to members of the Jehovah's Witnesses faith violates the federal Civil Rights Act, along with New Jersey state law and the city code of Jersey City. The Civil Rights Act states in relevant part, 'All persons shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation . . . without discrimination on the ground of race, color, religion, or national origin,' " the letter said.
Such a restrictive promotional practice favors religious customers and denies customers who do not attend Jehovah's Witnesses services the right to "full and equal enjoyment" of the ramp, Markert said.
The Foundation ascertained that the $3 discount was not being subsidized by the church. After the letter was sent to the property owner, a different sign went up, offering parking at an even lower rate of $4 to Jehovah's Witnesses.
The Foundation contacted the Jersey City Human Rights Commission about the violation.
Markert said the property owner objected initially and basically said we "should take him to court."
But after the city filed its own complaint, Harwood agreed to stop the practice. Scott Harwood, managing member, wrote to the city: "As of the date of this writing [Oct. 21], I have spoken to the parking operator for the Square Ramp Garage, which we own, and they advised me that as of this writing, they will no longer provide special discount [sic] for the Jehovah's Witnesses."
Markert praised the quick intervention by Melvin Prince, senior community relations specialist for the Jersey City Human Rights Commission. "He recognized the outlandish nature of this civil rights violation and even hand-delivered a copy of the Foundation's letter and the Commission's own complaint to the property owner. The Foundation appreciates such commitment to the law."
Comments
Why give Jehovah's Witnesses special rights when they believe all none JW's are going to be destroyed soon at the end of the world...plus they are a bunch of hypocrites who don't treat people lovingly which violates Jesus command to love your enemies. They are self-righteous and disfunctional.
Tim. Why so much hate? Private Property owners do not need my permission to do anything. If someone wants to give a discount they do not need to ask me. Too many people meddling into too many affairs. I for one trust the property owners to give or not give discounts. Trust in your fellow man. Remember Keifer Sutherland in Kelly's Heroes " quit with the negative waves"
To my knowledge the JWs used the parking lots on weekends, throughtout the year. My question is this: Are the 300 alledge signees or that foundation going to cover the lost of monies due to their meddling?
I was surprised at the complaint. Businesses give discounts out to groups all the time because they want their business. Should I feel oppressed that I can't get a Senior's Coffee at Mc Donalds? Mc'Ds can give out discounts to whoever they want. This parking garage makes more money knowing they get the ENTIRE business of the convention goers that a smaller cut at a higher rate.
I also don't understand why theFreedom From Religion Foundation, whose mission is to "Protecting the constitutional principle of the separation of state and church" is trying to interfere with private enterprise, don't they have anymore Ten Commandments to remove from public buildings?
Bill, the LAW prohibits "discrimination on the ground of race, color, religion, or national origin". The discount clearly WAS religious discrimination against non-JWs who might want to park there. The owner can choose to obey the law or shut down. Religion doesn't have a free pass to discriminate anymore.
Lowell- The law does prohibit discrimination based on religion (and I am all for that), but no one was being discriminated. Catholics didn't pay 8 dollars because they were Catholic, Atheists didn't pay 8 dollars because they were Atheist. These people we given a discount because they their business was wanted, not due to their religion, gender or race, but proximity to the establishment. If this was a local cinema, would anyone object if there was a discount given to customers? These customers weren't given a discount because they were Jehovah's Witnesses, because of their convictions, but because thousands of them come to the Theater that is directly across the street every week. Discrimination would be if there were a policy that let anyone who was a Jehovah's Witness park there, go do there shopping, catch a train to the city from the PATH, ect because of their faith. That's not what is happening here.
Bill... this might be easier for you to understand if you would learn the definitions of words, and how to parse sentences. This is REALLY, really simple.
OK... this may shock you to hear this... but there is NOTHING wrong with 'discrimination'. Discrimination is simply making a choice. If you prefer prime rib to hot dogs... that's discrimination. If you prefer blonds over brunettes... that's discrimination. The law DOES NOT prohibit 'discrimination'. What it does is limit the CRITERIA that you use in MAKING discriminating judgments. In this case, the law prohibits setting a discounted price for Jehovah's Witnesses because their CRITERIA for deciding who gets the discount... discriminating... is based on RELIGION.
In summary...
discrimination: OK
some CRITERIA for discriminating: BAD
Get it? No? That's OK... I didn't think you would get it, even after it was explained to you.
Why can't a a private property owner give discounts to whomever he sees fit?
They should take his ass to court anyways and make an example of the little bitch.
Jehovah's Witnesses DISCRIMATE A LOT against others and are very oppressive and intrusive then go nuts if they do get their way
BEST Most sensible post:
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Tim Young says:
Why give Jehovah's Witnesses special rights when they believe all none JW's are going to be destroyed soon at the end of the world...plus they are a bunch of hypocrites who don't treat people lovingly which violates Jesus command to love your enemies. They are self-righteous and disfunctional.
@DuckPhup
I think the basis for the "discrimination" is that there are many hundreds arriving to use the nearby facility, and they just so happen to be JWs. The criteria the parking lot owner is using is that they are nearby and he can get their business by offering a discount, not that these are JWs so they deserve a discount...
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This is sooo stupid! The PEOPLE attending the Assembly Hall were given discounts by this near parking. These PEOPLE were NOT required to be baptized Jehovah's Witnesses in order to get the discount. This lawsuit was an action simply againts the JWs and not the parking owner's decisions (decisions he's free to make).... Get a life!
I'm an agnostic leaning towards atheism and I too think this is preposterous.
This is at best petty, and at worst as radical of fanaticism as the über-Christian anti-gay-marriage nutjobs.
If atheists want to be taken seriously, they need to rise above nonsense like this. If they want to exercise their right to be free from religion, they need to honor the freedom to practice religion as well.
My experience has been that Jehovah's Witnesses are as a group, higher quality citizens who leave public facilities not only undamaged but in better shape than before. The reason is because they are so conscious of cleanliness and civil order if they see trash on the ground they pick it up and dispose of it.
They don't even smoke or chew which means there are also no filthy tobacco discards to be cleaned up at the end of the day.
Sorry, but I see it as the man's discount was probably a business decision based on how much less it cost him to operate on the days when Jehovah's Witnesses filled his garage.
"Remember Keifer Sutherland in Kelly's Heroes"
Ummm no. Keifer was about 3 years old when that movie was released. I'm pretty sure you mean Donald.
When I read the comments from people that say it's ok for them to get a discount, I just replace JW with, oh, let's say, white, or black. Now, if they were given a discount because their skin color, would that be ok. What part of "IT'S THE LAW", didn't you understand.
I stand corrected.
Wait a minute (and thanks for the personal attack duck, stay classy), for all the people clamoring "it's the law", this is an atheist activist group's interpretation of the law and their attempt to strong arm a business owner for a commercial decision. The group behind it owns to a lofty goal of keeping a of keeping church seperate from state, but they've strayed a long way from their mission here. The discount wasn't given by a Jw to people because they were JW, but because they wanted the business of patrons of the Theater across the street. Side note- non JW were not denied usage of the garage. That would be discrimination. I'll give you another example. The FFRF Convention was recently held in Seattle at the Red Lion Hotel. I would imagine they negotiated a group discount rate. Now as a God believing person should I sue the hotel for discrimination against my faith for not giving everyone else the same discount? Of course not, that would be silly, and this action is as well.
Its called a group rate. There is a JW convention hall across the street. They do it everywhere. Basically, if you fill 500+ parking spaces (as part of the group)...You get a discount.
Once again, how ignorant and stupid would those haters have to be to complain because some individuals get a parking discount... Discrimination on the basis of what??? And I'm sorry but, the owner of the parking facility is not that smart either... He will for sure make more money after this... (Sarcastic laugh, lol...) The JWs should avoid that parking until he owner gives them a lower discount, if not, soon enough they will get a discount somewhere else... They always do... Jaja... Stupid!
Once again, how ignorant and stupid would those haters have to be to complain because some individuals get a parking discount... Discrimination on the basis of what??? And I'm sorry but, the owner of the parking facility is not that smart either... He will for sure make more money after this... (Sarcastic laugh, lol...) The JWs should avoid that parking until he owner gives them a lower discount, if not, soon enough they will get a discount somewhere else... They always do... Jaja... Stupid!
Its always nice to see the begrudgers of Jehovah's Witnesses, bringing up issues, websites and the like afterall Jesus said to his true disciples - they will hate you!!! So thanks for fulfilling prophecy. Now to the other people who have made comments, some fair too, Jehovah's People get discounts from car parks, Hotels B & B's and other institutions because they spend their money in various towns & cities all over the world which is beneficial to the communities commercially. For those who are interested JEHOVAH is God's NAME not a title like Lord or God. You can learn more by having a FREE home Bible Study with God's people. Also whover Jehovah decides to save at this Systems (Worlds)end is down to Him and his Son Jesus Christ. We do believe though that we are the true religion based on the Holy Scriptures. Praise Jehovah and may you all seek Him.
Jehovah's Witnesses are the telemarketer shill scam SPAMMERS of the world.
They are a washed up cult full of fraud and false teachings and never refute the charges against them or apologize only attack and shoot the messengers.
They are an abusive cult that ignores internal church crime like pedophilia child abuse and domestic abuse.
You don't not want to be recruited by them.Go and google:
Jehovah Witness Watchtower and scroll down about 25 links
SAFETY FIRST ALWAYS
LOOK! They won't stop spamming even right here at this blog.They "put their foot in the door" online and won't take NO for an answer.
Jehovah's Witnesses would be obscure and no one would say anything negative about them except they instigate problems.
1) break up families under the guise of Jesus said so.
2) let kids die from no blood transfusion then say it's from God and then have all kinds of you can use blood parts loopholes.
3) go door to door and lie about why they are really there say it's to encourage Bible reading when they want to get literature in your hands ask for donation and then come back bothersome because you took literature just to be nice to them.
Get rid of these 3 things and you will do fine maybe even God will like you better
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