Six Republican campaign volunteers say they were kicked out of an Uber on Saturday as their driver told them “welcome to the resistance.”
The six volunteers were told halfway to their destination in Raleigh, North Carolina, to exit the vehicle at a gas station because the driver “had the right to deny [them] service,” Mary Russell, one of the riders in the Uber, told The Daily Caller News Foundation. The six riders exited the car and were told, “Welcome to the resistance,” as the driver drove away.
“It was clear based on our mild conservative political talk that the driver realized we were Republicans,” Russell, who was the rider who ordered the Uber, told The DCNF. After the incident, she received a message from Uber saying that she was inappropriate towards her driver.
“I reviewed the relevant policy of Uber and we did not use ‘inappropriate and abusive language or gestures’ that would result in the early termination of a ride,” Russell said. “This type of discrimination against politically oriented conservatives should be against the policy of Uber.”
Russell said the group then requested another ride and experienced no problems with that driver.
Chris Godbey, another one of the riders, also felt the group was unfairly treated.
“For an individual to blatantly target Young Republicans for their political outlook is an assault on the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment. While business owners should have the freedom to provide the service as the see fit, once a contract has been entered, breaking that contract is inappropriate and to do so based on discrimination for political beliefs is unlawful,” he told The DCNF
“As a loyal and longstanding Uber customer and a proud conservative working to make this country a better place for everyone, this is unacceptable, and I will consider other ride-sharing apps in the future if this is not addressed,” Russell said.
The six were on a campaign trip to campaign for North Carolina Republican Reps. Mark Meadows, George Holding and Mark Walker, as well as North Carolina Lt. Governor Dan Forest, North Carolina State Republican Rep. Chris Malone, and Mark Harris, a candidate for the House of Representatives.
The incident is part of a trend of harassment and denials of service to Republicans. A congressional intern was denied service in an Uber on Tuesday because he was wearing a “Make America Great Again Hat,” according to The Daily Caller. (RELATED: Random Stranger Takes Kid’s MAGA Hat, Then Tosses Drink On Him)
“We expect all riders and drivers to treat each other with respect, and we’re looking into this situation,” an Uber spokesperson told TheDCNF on Sunday.
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