RE: Many stores post signs saying something along the lines of, “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.”
What if anyone includes black people? Should the law step in?
As far as I know, being black is not a lifestyle choice, and a black person is most likely not doing anything that would warrant a business owner’s decision not to further associate with that person. So, in that case, an argument can be made for having the law step in if the business owner refused to serve a black person based on the person’s race and no other factor.
Whether a person can control being gay—which is still under debate—he or she can certainly control the behavior. And just because a gay “couple” wants to pretend to marry does not and should not give them any right to compel others to play along with their fantasy. It is a totally different situation than being black, which is beyond anyone’s control.
(RE: Many stores post signs saying something along the lines of, “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.”
What if anyone includes black people? Should the law step in?)
Jim Crow WAS the government stepping in and forcing businesses to segregate. Also it was the government that ran the bus lines and discriminated there too. There were even laws that forced private businesses TO discriminate even if the business owner did not want to.
A lot of businesses that were ran by racists closed after jim crow law because not having government there to back racism is bad for racist business.
In my opinion, no. A private business should have the right to refuse service to anyone, for any reason. Otherwise, we are not a free country.