Office Depot refuses to print Planned Parenthood protest material over the word ‘prayer’
Thomas More Society has sent a demand letter to Office Depot, challenging the company’s refusal to print religious flyers for customer Maria Goldstein at its Schaumburg, IL location as discrimination and a violation of the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance.
“Anyone can order printing at Office Depot,” said Thomas Olp, Thomas More Society special counsel attorney. “But because Ms. Goldstein’s flyers had religious content—namely calling for prayer for Planned Parenthood—Office Depot refused to complete her order. This is a blatant violation of the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance, which forbids public businesses from discriminating based on religion.”
Planned Parenthood supporters at protest 2011 photo/S. MiRK via wikimedia commons
On August 20, 2015, Maria Goldstein placed her order for printing at the Office Depot in Schaumburg, IL. The item to be printed was a flyer that stated several statistics from Planned Parenthood’s 2013-2014 annual report, mentioned the abortion provider’s harvesting of fetal body parts, and included a prayer for the conversion of Planned Parenthood.
Ms. Goldstein was told by an Office Depot employee that the printing of her flyer was “restricted by corporate policy” and that her order would not be filled. Ms. Goldstein contacted the Office of the Chairman multiple times to discuss the company’s refusal to fill her order. Diane Demma from the Office of the Chairman stood up for the Office Depot employees’ refusal to print Ms. Goldstein’s flyer and offered no other alternatives.
“Office Depot is discriminating against me based on my religion,” said Maria Goldstein. “If the store can pick and choose what orders it fills based on religious content, it is refusing to treat people of faith equally. In America where we value freedom of religion, this is simply unacceptable.”
Thomas More Society’s demand letter states that Office Depot must cease its unlawful refusal to service Ms. Golstein’s copying order or the Society will act to secure Ms. Goldstein’s rights before the Cook County Human Rights Commission, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, or other appropriate venue.
Read Thomas More Society’s letter to Office Depot here
View Maria Goldstein’s flyer below
