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28 Apr, 2014

California Muslim, Sikh Groups to File Complaint Against Amusement Park

(SANTA CLARA, CA, 4/28/14) (CAIR media release) – On April 29, the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) and UNITED SIKHS will hold simultaneous news conferences in Anaheim and Santa Clara to announce the filing of multiple public accommodation complaints with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) against Boomers! amusement parks, a subsidiary of Palace Entertainment Holdings.

The complaints allege violations of California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act based on Boomers! unwillingness to permit park attendees wearing religious head coverings from riding Go-Karts. Both Muslim and Sikh park attendees have repeatedly been denied access to the rides. The company, citing unfounded safety concerns, has been unwilling to provide any accommodation, thereby effectively banning thousands of local residents from riding the Go-Karts solely based on their faith.

WHAT: CAIR-CA and UNITED SIKHS to Announce Filing of DFEH Complaints against Boomers! Parks

WHO: CAIR-CA, UNITED SIKHS, and individual clients denied access to the rides

WHEN: Tuesday, April 29th at 10 a.m. (Pacific)

WHERE: CAIR-LA, 2180 W. Crescent Ave., Ste. F, Anaheim, CA; CAIR-SFBA, 3000 Scott Blvd., Ste. 101, Santa Clara, CA

CONTACT: CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo, 626.252.0885, zbilloo@cair.com

“Companies cannot utilize unfounded safety concerns to discriminate against thousands of people,” said CAIR-Northern California Civil Rights Coordinator Brice Hamack. “It troubles us that every other amusement park is able to make sufficient accommodations to permit women wearing hijabs to ride some of the fastest roller coasters in the world, but that Boomers! has unequivocally denied them access to the Go-Kart rides.”

“Boomers! has failed to provide any clear or sensible reasoning for denying individuals with religious headwear requirements access to go-karts,” said UNITED SIKHS Staff Attorney Manmeet Singh. “To deny people their religious liberties on unfounded fears is something that cannot and should not be tolerated in today’s day and age.”

CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

UNITED SIKHS is a U.N. affiliated, international non-profit, non-governmental, humanitarian relief, human development and advocacy organization, aimed at empowering those in need, especially disadvantaged and minority communities across the world.