Denny’s Server Quits After Customers Cite “Religious Exemption” to Wearing Masks

In a disturbing video from September, now going viral on Reddit, a woman working at a Denny’s in Franklin Park, Illinois quits on the spot after two customers enter without masks and demand to be seated anyway because of their “religious exemption” to the requirement.

“Roger, I’m not working for this s**t anymore. These guys won’t put their masks on, I’m sick of feeling like this,” the employee says, as the man recording again accuses her of “discriminating” against them. “I’m not discriminating against you.”

“I’m sorry you can’t come in here without a mask, the governor said ‘no mask, no service,'” the manager tells the two men, repeating the words on public health signs posted all around the Denny’s front entrance.

“Sir, the Civil Rights Act says we can claim a religious exemption for not wearing a mask, we’re not sick,” the patron tells the manager. “OK, then you have lost our business.”

That’s not how religious exemptions work. That’s also not how the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which they cite, works.

Near the end of the video, the two Christians leave while saying “You lost our business,” as if anyone wants to be around them anyway. The arrogance it takes to walk into a restaurant and put everyone inside at risk because you think Jesus gives you some sort of magical powers is arrogant if not criminal.

While the identity of those religious jerks isn’t clear, one of them has a message on his shirt taken directly from a conservative pastor’s book:

… the two men, one of whom is wearing a shirt that quotes Franklin Battle, founder of the born-again Christian group, Jesus Christ Ministries, repeatedly accuse her of “discrimination.”

The restaurant issued this statement to Newsweek yesterday:

Denny’s is aware of the situation involving an employee and two guests that refused to wear face coverings at its Franklin Park, IL location. While we understand that some may feel that they are exempt from certain mandates, at Denny’s, the safety of our employees and guests is our top priority and we will always abide by all applicable regulations and guidelines to ensure that priority is met. This pandemic has hit the restaurant industry and those that work in it particularly hard, and we ask that those who choose to dine out respect the hard work and resilience of these workers by adhering to public health guidelines as well as individual restaurant policies. We look forward to when these requirements are no longer necessary, but until then, will continue to act in the best interest of the health and welfare of our guests, employees and the communities we serve.

They’re being corporate. I’ll be more blunt: If you’re foolish enough to eat inside a restaurant right now, then wear a goddamn mask. Show some respect to the people who work there. Don’t make an awful situation even worse because you think being Christian makes you better than everyone else.

(Thanks to Brian for the link)