Michigan Dhimmi Watch
Charles Johnson
Sat Dec 9, 2006 at 9:14 am PST • Views: 436
It is now legal to board a bus in Grand Rapids wearing a full face mask: Michigan Public Transit Officials Apologize to Muslim Woman Over Veil Rejection. (Hat tip: Killgore Trout.)
Apologies have been offered to those who wish to ride the transit system in disguise.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Public transit officials have apologized to a woman wearing an Islamic facial veil who was turned away from a bus and Friday rescinded a rule banning people with face coverings.
The ban was aimed at riders wearing Halloween or ski masks and officials had not considered religious dress, Rapid bus system spokeswoman Jennifer Kalczuk said. The rule was issued earlier this year so that an on-board camera system could help identify riders if there is a disturbance.
A bus driver told the woman in July that she would have to uncover her veil to board the bus, officials said. She had ridden other Rapid buses previously and was able to board another bus the same day.
Debbie Mageed, a Grand Rapids-area Islamic activist, said she appreciated Rapid’s response.
“We can’t expect all public domains to be aware of these situations until they actually come up,” Mageed said. “As long as it doesn’t happen again, I’ll feel like they were sincere in their efforts to revise their policy.”
Frank says: