THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A former cashier for The Home Depot who has been wearing a "One nation under God" button on his work apron for more than a year has been fired, he says because of the religious reference. The company claims that expressing such personal beliefs is simply not allowed."I've worn it for well over a year and I support my country and God," Trevor Keezor said Tuesday. "I was just doing what I think every American should do, just love my country."
The American flag button Keezer wore in the Florida store since March 2008 says "One nation under God, indivisible."
Earlier this month, he began bringing a Bible to read during his lunch break at the store in the rural town of Okeechobee, about 140 miles north of Miami. That's when he says The Home Depot management told him he would have to remove the button.
Keezer refused, and he was fired on Oct. 23, he said.
"It feels kind of like a punishment, like I was punished for just loving my country," Keezer said.
A Home Depot spokesman said Keezer was fired because he violated the company's dress code.
"This associate chose to wear a button that expressed his religious beliefs. The issue is not whether or not we agree with the message on the button," Craig Fishel said. "That's not our place to say, which is exactly why we have a blanket policy, which is long-standing and well-communicated to our associates, that only company-provided pins and badges can be worn on our aprons."
Fishel said Keezer was offered a company-approved pin that said, "United We Stand," but he declined.
Keezer's lawyer, Kara Skorupa, said she planned to sue the Atlanta-based company.
"There are federal and state laws that protect against religious discrimination," Skorupa said. "It's not like he was out in the aisles preaching to people."
Keezer said he was working at the store to earn money for college, and wore the button to support his country and his 27-year-old brother, who is in the National Guard and is set to report in December for a second tour of duty in Iraq.
Skorupa noted the slogan on Keezer's pin is straight from the Pledge of Allegiance.
"These mottos and sayings that involve God, that's part of our country and historical fabric," Skorupa said. "In God we trust is on our money."
Michael Masinter, a civil rights and employment law professor at NOVA Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, said any lawsuit over religious discrimination might be a tough one to win.
"Because it's a private business, not one that's owned and operated by the government, it doesn't have to operate under the free speech provisions of the First Amendment," Masinter said.
"But we're not talking about religious displays here," he said. "This sounds more like a political message ... Wearing a button of that sort would not easily be described as a traditional form of religious expression like wearing a cross or wearing a yarmulke."
Next: Think You Were Fired Unfairly? >>
Oct 28th 2009 @ 7:21PM Steve Kizziah
They Lost My Buisnes..............
Reply
Oct 29th 2009 @ 12:30PM KNUTE9
I'll never shop at the Home Depot again !
Oct 29th 2009 @ 12:38PM I
I HATED HOME DEPOT TO BEGIN WITH NOW I KNOW WHY SHAME ON THEM
Oct 29th 2009 @ 12:37PM Donnie King
Hey There,
Why don't the 86% of us that still believe in God and Country all wear our buttons to Home Depot. Don't buy nothing just walk around the store. See what they think about that. I'll never buy anything there again.
Oct 29th 2009 @ 12:43PM james baumann
they lost my business too
Oct 29th 2009 @ 12:51PM dc3dale2
Stupid people don't usually make much money so I doubt that is going to be very effective bargaining chip. Maybe in the future Home Depot will have a question on their applications along the lines of: How many invisible supernatural beings do you believe in? Check all that apply: Santa Claus, The Tooth Fairy, God, The Boogeyman under the bed, The Easter Bunny, etc. etc. If you answer one or more you may be too stupid to clean the floors at Home Depot (or anywhere else). I'd suggest leaving your childhood behind and growing the F*** up.
Oct 29th 2009 @ 12:56PM George
Home Depot just lost my busniess as well
Oct 31st 2009 @ 6:33PM berries
Re company policy ... why didn't he get asked to remove the pin the first day he broke policy??? Why did they offer him a different pin to wear?? What if he wore the pin on his sleeve or collar instead of his apron? Would he have been asked to remove it??
Oct 29th 2009 @ 1:23PM dawn
Lost my business and I will tell everyone I can.
Nov 2nd 2009 @ 5:51AM Jenna Satterly
Home Depot will never see a dime of my hard earned money, both as and American and as a Christian, they have lost ALL my respect.
Oct 29th 2009 @ 1:15PM quinana2001
I understand that people are claiming that the guy was "in violation of dress code" and that "Home Depot had every right to fire him" But if you read the story more carefully you'll see that he wore the pin for up to a year prior, and it wasn't until he began bringing his Bible for lunch break reading that the pin became an issue. He wasn't forcing Christianity on anyone. If the pin was such an issue, why wasn't something said earlier?
Oct 29th 2009 @ 1:19PM D
My company works very closely with The Home Depot, and I know many from all levels, including high level management. This is probably the best corporation I have been associated with for business or otherwise. The worker was insubordinate, and was violating the dress code. Because they are my customer, I am required to follow their dress code when I enter their offices and warehouses. The includes not wearing clothing with logos. I would be asked to change my clothes or leave, even if I was wearing clothing with a Nike logo. What they did was appropriate and fair. They gave this man the opportunity to remove the button, and he declined. The end.
Oct 30th 2009 @ 3:05AM jgc711
hey d...if i go into home depot and i have to buy something and i am wearing a shirt with a nike logo, will they ask me to take off my shirt? so you cannot even go to home depot wearing a shirt with your company's logo? that's pathetic...now i'm having second thoughts about home depot...
Oct 29th 2009 @ 1:32PM jgc711
hey d...that's really stupid on home depot's part...does that mean that if i go to home depot wearing a shirt with a nike logo, they will ask me to take if off...and you can't even go there if you're wearing a shirt with your company's logo even on official business for your company? that's totally pathetic...something got to be changed...
Oct 29th 2009 @ 1:43PM p
I agree,, I will never shop there again,, never,,
Oct 29th 2009 @ 1:50PM tato
Amen!
Oct 29th 2009 @ 2:03PM Faith
This is horribel. I will defiantely not shop there again!!!
Wow I guess people can wear "harry Potter" buttons or what ever else junk, BUT when something about "one nation under God" !!! Isn't this in our PLEDGE????? OR will that be eliminated too????
Oct 29th 2009 @ 1:54PM mars
does it really matter that you where a billboard or put up a flag so there everyone knows your beliefs? Besides, who cares what one believes anyway? The point is KEEP IT TO YOURSELF and you'll be a lot better off!
Oct 29th 2009 @ 1:55PM Ed Stokes
NO MORE HOME DEPOT FOR ME!!!!!
Oct 29th 2009 @ 1:59PM Oscaro
You religious nutters ovwerestimate your influence. I've worked with these "holier-than -thou" religious types and their pompous superiority is offensive to everyone. Reading a bible at break time isn't about practicing faith. They're making a statement that means: "Look at me! I'm a superior person because I do religious things!" You make me want to hurl.