A bus company is being taken to court for allegedly failing to fulfill its contract to transport protesters to the March for Israel rally. The incident occurred after the company’s drivers refused to drive the protesters, and the plaintiff is claiming damages for religious discrimination.
The plaintiff, Doron Orbach, is suing Coach USA in a class action lawsuit, alleging violations of several federal anti-discrimination laws, including the Civil Rights Act. Orbach claims Coach is liable for his attempt to transport individuals to the D.C. protest in support of Israel.
According to the lawsuit, Orbach, who is Jewish and Israeli, asserts that the Israeli American Council had booked buses through Coach to transport upwards of 900 individuals from various pickup points across the East Coast to the march in D.C. However, Orbach claims that Coach failed to pick up the protesters as scheduled due to the drivers and employees’ discriminatory animus towards Jewish people.
Orbach claims that multiple Coach bus drivers staged a “sick out” on the day of the rally to avoid picking up the protesters, the majority of whom were Jewish or of Israeli origin. As a result, Orbach alleges that his civil and human rights, as well as those of everyone else who missed the rally, were violated.
The lawsuit states that Coach knew or should have known about the possibility of its drivers backing out but failed to take measures to prevent it. Orbach is suing for unspecified damages in response to the alleged discrimination.
Recently, VP of Commercial for Coach USA, Colin Emberson, responded to the incident, stating that Coach USA was not involved in the incident where charter customers from another bus company were left stranded on their way to a rally in Washington, D.C. Emberson clarified that Coach USA successfully carried passengers on 74 charter buses from New Jersey and Maryland to the rally as planned.
Overall, the incident has sparked a legal battle involving allegations of religious discrimination and violation of civil and human rights.
As the case unfolds, it raises important questions about the responsibilities of transportation companies to prevent discrimination and uphold the rights of their passengers. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of fair and nondiscriminatory practices in all aspects of public services.
The outcome of the lawsuit will likely have broader implications for transportation and charter companies, as it will set a precedent for the standards of care and responsibility owed to their customers. It also sheds light on the need for greater awareness and prevention of discriminatory practices within the transportation industry.
The incident and subsequent legal action underscore the significance of protecting the rights of all individuals, irrespective of their religious or cultural background, and the importance of holding companies accountable for potential discriminatory behavior.
It is a reminder of the ongoing efforts to create a society that upholds the principles of equality and non-discrimination, not only in the legal system but in all areas of public and private life. The case will undoubtedly continue to generate discussions around the legal and ethical obligations of companies to ensure fair and equal treatment for all individuals.
