Target is at the center of serious controversy after Target Starbucks barista wrote “ISIS” on a woman’s cup instead of her name. The customer, a Muslim woman named Aishah who wears a hijab, was shocked and upset when she noticed it. According to CNN, the 19-year-old explained, “The moment I saw it, I was overwhelmed with a lot of emotions.”
She continued, “I felt belittled and so humiliated. This is a word that shatters the Muslim reputation all over the world. I cannot believe that in this day and age, something like this can be considered acceptable. It isn’t okay.”
As a result, Aishah is filing a discrimination suit. Keep reading for the details.
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The incident occurred at the St. Paul-Midway Target Starbucks on July 1.
CNN explains that Aisha will be represented by the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN).
Explaining the circumstances of the event, Aishah explained that the barista could not have misheard her: "When she asked for my name, I slowly repeated it multiple times."
CNN obtained a copy of the discrimination charge, In it, the employee claimed that she had not heard Aishah's name correctly.
However, according to Aishah, "There is absolutely no way she could have heard it as ISIS. Aishah is not an unknown name and I repeated it multiple times."
After seeing the cup, Aishah asked to speak to the employee's supervisor who gave her a new drink and a $25 Starbucks gift card. Aishah was then escorted from the location by security officers.
Although Target has yet to respond to Aishah's formal complaint directly, a spokesperson from the company did talk to CNN, explaining that they want "everyone who shops with us to feel welcomed, valued and respected and we strictly prohibit discrimination and harassment in any form."
However, they seem to believe the matter is just an unfortunate misunderstanding. The statement continues, "We have investigated the matter and believe that it was not a deliberate act but an unfortunate mistake that could have been avoided with a simple clarification. We're taking appropriate actions with the team member, including additional training, to ensure this does not occur again."
