Latino Day Laborers Targeted in Encinitas

A security guard at a Shell gas station on Encinitas Boulevard routinely forbids certain Latino individuals from entering the station to make purchases, tells them they are not allowed to stand on the public sidewalk, and specifically targets Latino individuals, telling them to "go back to Mexico."

The Unruh Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ancestry, or national origin in "all business establishments of every kind whatsoever." The Act also specifies that no business establishment may discriminate against -- or refuse to sell or trade with -- any person based on these characteristics.

The ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties sent a letter to the station manager today to draw his attention to the matter. The ACLU is confident that the matter will be resolved and the manager will clarify the gas station's policy with his employees so this behavior will not continue in the future.

ACLU Letter to Encinitas Shell Station Manager

2010 05 13 Letter re Encinitas daylaborers.pdf