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Faith

Atheists to File Civil Rights Complaint After Florists Refuse to Deliver to Teen Behind Prayer Mural Ban

Jan. 20, 2012 8:38pm Billy Hallowell

Wherever there’s a case in the U.S. involving atheist activism, the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) is bound to get involved. While it was the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) that defended teen atheist Jessica Ahlquist in her successful quest to have a prayer mural removed from her Rhode Island public high school, the FFRF is also rushing to the young girl’s defense. Citing discrimination, the organization is filing a civil rights complaint after numerous florists refused to deliver flowers to the girl.

The FFRF reportedly tried to have a dozen roses delivered to Ahlquist with the message, ”Congratulations, and hang in there, with admiration from FFRF.” After being denied by three florists in the Cranston, Rhode Island, area, the group was eventually able to secure an order from a business located in Connecticut.

Atheists File Civil Rights Complaint Against Florist | Jessica Ahlquist & FFRF

Teen atheist Jessica Ahlquist

According to FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor, Twins Florist, one of the businesses that refused to deliver, violated the Civil Rights Act when the business discriminated based on Ahlquist’s atheism. Gaylor released the receipt order from the florist, which reads, “I will not deliver to this person.”

See the image of the receipt, below:

Image Credit: Patch/Freedom From Religion Foundation

“We have basic civil rights standards in our society. A business can’t shun you because you’re an atheist,” the atheist leader said. “You do not have the right to refuse to do business with someone based on categories and that includes religion. It’s as if they said ‘I will not deliver to a black person.’”

The florists, though, disagree with Gaylor’s stance on the matter. Turnto10.com reports that Raymond Santilli of Flowers by Santilli, one of the companies the FFRF attempted to order from, explains that a foundation representative told him that the person delivering the flowers might need police protection. Additionally, he was apparently told that the person would potentially need identification to enter the home.

“We refused the order because we really don’t want to cross lines,” Santilli said. ”If I send flowers there, somebody may get upset with us and retaliate against us.”

He maintains that he has the right to deliver — or not — to whomever he chooses, because he owns the shop.

Twins Florist owner Marina Plowman echoed these sentiments.

“I just chose not to do it. Nothing personal, it was a choice that I made. It was my right, so I did that,” she said. ”I’m an independent owner and I can chose whoever I want, whenever I want.”

(H/T: Patch)

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Comments (529)

koyettsu
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 1:07am
lol you cannot tell a business who they can and can’t do business with. They have every right to refuse business from anyone for any reason, sue them all you want you are just wasting your money.

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Proud Stray Dog
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 1:05am
To quote the sign in a gas station not far from my house: “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.”

Of course, I would have delivered the roses. Not my fault they wilted en route.

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LucienTHackenpupea
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:52am
So the FFRF says it is religious discrimination? I thought atheism is not a religion. If it is a religion, then why are they forcing their views and “religion” on Rhode Island?

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Collbuzz
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:48am
I have seen signs in many businesses: “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.” Take that athiest losers!

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shamanal
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:48am
the OFFENSIVE part here is that annoying autorun video ad for a race track

i may have to start a legal action against glenn

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COFemale
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:38am
I would have taken the order agreed to deliver and charged FFRF double.

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yourfiredobama
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:37am
Since Atheist don’t believe in god, why the hell do they even care about religion anyway? It shouldn’t matter to them since to them God does not exist. I don’t believe in unicorns and leprechauns but I don’t mind seeing them in books and advertisements and other places. I am sick and tired of one stupid ass whiner that decides they don’t like God or don’t even believe in God or religion and ruin it for the majority that others revere. Oh, and p.s. Well, when you die, it will be up to god to see where you will go and by the way, NO FLOWERS FOR YOU!!

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- Nick84
  Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:54am
  It’s really disturbing that you don’t understand why atheists care about religion. I wonder if you would care about people who believe in leprechauns if they were trying to legislate their silly beliefs on you. Also, you should consider changing your name to YOU’REFIREDOBAMA.
  
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- unbound1
  Posted on January 21, 2012 at 4:11am
  It’s because they aren’t really atheists, they are ANTI-theists. An atheist could care less what you believe, but these groups who are trying to get rid of religion hate God for whatever reasons. Like this girl, she wants to be an activist. People don’t fight things they don’t believe in, they fight things they hate.
  
  Report this comment
Wolverine87
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:33am
Right. You and the Muslim cab drivers who refuse to pick up those they do not want to drive home because they are women, drunk, or gay, should have a conversation. Maybe that will make you feel better.

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LeadNotFollow
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:22am
…
Nice to see someone take a stand.
Hope the two florists receive a lot of flower orders in their support.

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COFemale
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:21am
As a business owner, I certainly have the right to serve you or not serve you I don’t care what religion you are or are not. I guess these “entitled” whiners are getting a taste of real life.

It is only if I hire you, that I am bound not to discriminate, but we all know employers discriminate anyway; so the law is useless and should be banished because nobody follows it.

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- Git-R-Done
  Posted on January 21, 2012 at 2:18am
  Anti-discrimination laws are thought policing laws. It’s none of the government’s business who businesses hire or who they serve as customers.
  
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Fippy
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:19am
Now, I’m probably best described as an agnostic/atheist, and I don’t much care for people trying to cram religion down anyone’s throat, but seriously, this “zomg it has the word ‘God’ in it it haz to go” stuff is getting pretty absurd. I’m not the slightest bit offended by seeing references to God wherever they happen to be. What the heck ever happened to live and let live? I would have an issue with something like making the girl have to pray, but just having a prayer posted in plain view…/eyeroll. If I were the florists I wouldn’t deliver to that girl either, I’d stay the heck away from that brewing %^$&storm…

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- Git-R-Done
  Posted on January 21, 2012 at 2:29am
  The left wing’s idea of live and let live is that the left always has their way.
  
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glennisright.com
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:18am
I believe the term is, “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone”.

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- DJ-DOUG-DJ
  Posted on January 28, 2012 at 4:53pm
  That’s street level talk, not actual discriminatory law… which is quite serious.
  
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Jenn of the Jungle
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:10am
As a CAPITOL A Atheist myself this little b*tch ****** me off to no end and I salute the florists. Good for them. A few words for our poster child of anti-Christian hatred….IF you are ACTUALLY an atheist then the banner should not have bothered you at all. In this country we have freedom OF.. yes OF OF OF OF OF OF OF OF Religion or lack thereof. The faith of others should not bother you at all. I consider it nice when a Christian buddy says they will pray for me…means they give a dog turd. These types.. these FAKE ATHEISTS REALLY PISS ME OFF. Little Kid…you need to stop pretending and just call yourself what you are….an ANTI-CHRISTIAN.

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GollygeeMrwilson
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:06am
“He maintains that he has the right to deliver — or not — to whomever he chooses, because he owns the shop.

Twins Florist owner Marina Plowman echoed these sentiments.

“I just chose not to do it. Nothing personal, it was a choice that I made. It was my right, so I did that,” she said. ”I’m an independent owner and I can chose whoever I want, whenever I want.”

Damn straight they do

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iamgorilla
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:55pm
So we need to sue everyone who ticks us off? These atheists need to find something better to do.

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Zcat
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:55pm
Kudos to all the florist who refused this stupid girl….hopefully the whole town will shun her!
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- DJ-DOUG-DJ
  Posted on January 28, 2012 at 4:55pm
  And you have a beautiful day yourself.. your love for your fellow man is “overwhelmingly evident”.
  
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Darlie
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:54pm
This group is co-mingling employment law with law in general and all at their convenience. A good attorney could shut this nonsense down in two phone calls.

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TyrannyNoMore
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:52pm
Would a business have the right to refuse the delivery of 10 pounds of pork to a mosque, if they feared the conflict it would cause ?? This florist is caught in a similar scenario.

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guns-an-bibles
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:50pm
hahahahaha… Can’t really argue that point!

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wntsmallgov
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:49pm
If I were a business owner I would have a sign up stating “this company has the right to refuse service to anyone at anytime”

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guns-an-bibles
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:45pm
Poor stupid kid!

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TyrannyNoMore
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:40pm
Well, if there is no God, then there will be no one to answer to if I start killing atheists. So, if you atheists do a good enough job of convincing me there is no God, effectively crushing my hopes of the here after, then I’m coming for you with impunity. Just a little food for thought for you soulless non-believers.

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- NOBAMA201258
  Posted on January 21, 2012 at 7:38am
  TYRANNYNOMORE- I’m not saying I condone it,but I understand !
  
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- chumpThreads
  Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:14pm
  So belief in a god is the only thing keeping you from being a homicidal maniac?
  By all means, please cling to your fantasies!
  
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Herokidstar
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:40pm
Why the ….. did she need flowers anyway? She won her case…. wait…. Shes not buying the flowers for herself…. who’s sending her flowers from small stores that may not want to be tagged with her and the media following on a google search? Plus they interviews a couple of different stores how many said “Sure whatever.”
Why do these stories get highlighted anyway? I mean this is just someones 15min of fame turning into 30 mins becuse the media wants to hit us over the head with the “Relegion is Evil” Bat AGAIN.

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LondoMollari
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:37pm
Businesses have every right to refuse service to people.

Those of who disagree, just allow me to show up at your workplace (preferably during lunch) shirtless and allow me to whip out the old toes. I am a hairy, overweight male, BTW, and by your logic it would be my RIGHT.

So shut-up and deal with it.

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Blue Istari
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:35pm
I’m worried about how this story will be used as another color for the negative portrait being painted of the faith community these days, but I completely agree that businesses should be able to refuse service for whichever reason they choose. They’re the ones losing potential profit if they do so, after all, though in this particular case I’d expect the shop to receive even more business from customers appreciative of their decision.

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