Latino Group Protests Business Owner

Wednesday, Mar 12, 2008 - 04:49 PM

PROVIDENCE - Dozens of people gathered in Providence on Wednesday to demand the Rhode Island attorney general's office investigate a business owner after he asked to see the Social Security cards of a Spanish-speaking customer.

David Richardson owns Rhode Island Refrigeration on Branch Avenue.

Two Latino customers said they tried to purchase a boiler part last week when Richardson questioned their immigration status and asked to see their cards. Richardson threatened to call the Immigration and Customs Enforcement if Jose Genao, a Rhode Island state employee and a U.S. citizen, would not comply with his demand.

"Mr. David Richardson has decided to put in jeopardy the future of his business by intimidating Latino consumers and violating their constitutional rights, when practicing racial profiling and requesting evidence of their legal status in this country, as a requirement to purchase goods", said the Rev. Miguel Rivera, president of the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders, in a statement.

The group is the largest Latino evangelical pastor's advocacy organization based out of Washington, D.C., provides legal support to the Latino community.

"We want to send a message to those members of the state legislature, that are considering 'frivolous' laws against the undocumented immigrants in Rhode Island, that our attorneys are ready to fight in federal and state court, such actions," Rivera said in a statement.

Richardson said he was within his rights to question their status.

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