Second Suit Filed Against Red Sox Over Green Monster Race Discrimination
A second Boston Fire Department fire prevention employee has filed suit against the Boston Red Sox claiming security officers refused to allow him access to the historic Green Monster during Game 1 of the 2013 World Series on account of his race.
Fire Inspector Rhoan Dalmar filed suit last week claiming that a Red Sox security employee demanded additional identification from him and another employee, Robert Cox. While the complaint does not identify Dalmar’s race, according to a lawsuit filed by Cox earlier this year, both Dalmar and Cox are black.
The suit claims that Cox and Dalmar were single out for the additional security scrutiny on account of their race because a third inspector who is white, Ronald Ingemi, was allowed in without any additional scrutiny. Dalmar claims the trio needed to enter the Green Monster to conduct an “inspection”.
When Dalmar objected to having to provide additional identification when Ingemi did not, he and the security officer got into a heated exchange. As the argument continued, Boston Police were called resulting in Dalmar being escorted out of the park.
The suit alleges defamation and a violation of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 272 Section 98, that prohibits discrimination in “public accommodation, resort or amusement”.
- Section 98. Whoever makes any distinction, discrimination or restriction on account of race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, which shall not include persons whose sexual orientation involves minor children as the sex object, deafness, blindness or any physical or mental disability or ancestry relative to the admission of any person to, or his treatment in any place of public accommodation, resort or amusement, as defined in section ninety-two A, or whoever aids or incites such distinction, discrimination or restriction, shall be punished by a fine of not more than twenty-five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, and shall be liable to any person aggrieved thereby for such damages as are enumerated in section five of chapter one hundred and fifty-one B; provided, however, that such civil forfeiture shall be of an amount not less than three hundred dollars; but such person so aggrieved shall not recover against more than one person by reason of any one act of distinction, discrimination or restriction. All persons shall have the right to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of any place of public accommodation, resort or amusement subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable to all persons. This right is recognized and declared to be a civil right.
Here is a copy of the complaint: Dalmar-v-Boston-Red-Sox
Just how many inspectors are required to check the place out during a World Series game? And isn’t it amazing how the very date chosen for the inspection just happens to be game 1?
I’m not buying either story.
I’ve never been to the facility, so how Big is it?
If I can reference it the size of the Oakland, Ca., Collasium, which I have been to, then I’ve got a reference size that I can relate to and use now.
Because of the size of the facility, inspections and maintaining of:
A. Exit clearances
B. Exit travel paths
C. Checking on proper installation on soda machine hook ups are approved.
D. Making sure all electrical connections are safe and secure.
E. Making sure all Exit discharges are clear for people to move through to the exit discharge.
F. Deep fat fryers, fixed systems are properly maintained and are tagged.
G. Any open cooking areas, or hot dog vendors using propane heating surfaces are well vented and have a proper fire extinguisher for that location.
H. Any fixed fire sprinkler system are not obstructed and can deploy for its intended use.
I. storage ares for vendor products are stored properly per BFD codes and not stored in a way that may cause or increase a fire intensity or impede exit travel.
J. And many other items on the inspection list.
First day or last day, you need to maintain what’s required.
No different than an EMS stand by crew. They are there, may be get to watch some of the game, but respond as needed.
Basically, this looks and sounds like the same old story of personal bias, on a different day.
In doing some research of the 1991 “Oakland Hills/ Tunnel Fire”, came across the story of a woman firefighter from the San Francisco FD, which had been assigned to work with a Truck crew at the Clairemont hotel. As she responded from home, she showed an Oakland PD Officer her ID and Badge, which he confiscated and threatened her with arrest.
It took her BC to straighten things out, but he maintained his hostility towards the woman.
When, all,is said and done, the Baseball team will pay out some money, the security firm may terminate the guards employment and Fire Inspector Rhoan Delmar, will remember this as one his worst days in the fire service. Money won’t pay or make him whole.