Dunkin Donuts apologizes after Somalis taunted by employee for speaking their language

The incident highlighted the difficulties experienced by immigrant groups adapting to contemporary American life

Oct 19, 2018

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After a Somali family in Portland, Me., was refused service for speaking in their native language at a Dunkin Donuts, the franchise owner has come forward and offered an apology, Maine Public reports.

Hamdia Ahmed, says she and her family were waiting in a drive-thru for someone to take their order at a Dunkin Donuts, but after they started speaking in their native language she said they were accused of yelling and refused service. Then she says they had the cops called on them.

“All of a sudden we just hear like – ‘Stop yelling. You’re yelling in my ears!’ ” Ahmed said. “And we were just like, ‘What the hell just happened. What is going on? When were we yelling? We’re having a conversation.’ ”

Once inside the store, she says an employee called her a “b—h” and they engaged in a heated exchange. A manager called the police. When the cops arrived, Ahmed said she was also issued a “no trespass notice” for causing a disturbance and told she couldn’t come back to the store for a year. It has since been dropped.

She streamed the incident on Facebook live.

“You’re gonna disrespect me ’cause I, I speak a different language than you? Is that what it is?,’ ” Ahmed said in the video. The employee responded, “It has nothing to do with your language. You can leave.”

Ahmed told the employee she was talking to her family, but the employee became frustrated and threatened to call the police.

“This is America 2018 right here. Racism and discrimination,” she said. Ahmed is a University of Southern Maine student and a model and civil rights activist and organized a protest outside the store on Wednesday.

Dunkin’s corporate office issued a written statement.

“Dunkin’ and our franchisees are committed to creating a positive customer service experience for all of our guests,” the company said.

“The franchisee who owns and operates the store has confirmed he has met with the guest, sincerely apologized to her for the poor experience and is working on providing additional customer service training to his store crew.”

“It should have never happened and I don’t think anyone should experience this ever again, but I also think that they’re trying to fix things and I appreciate that,” Ahmed said.