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Man Says Employer Told Him To Remove Obama Shirt
Employee: Supervisor Asked Me To Remove T-Shirt With Image Of New President

POSTED: Wednesday, January 21, 2009
UPDATED: 7:03 pm EST January 21, 2009



A Sam's Club employee says he was asked to remove his President Barack Obama T-shirt after a supervisor told him a customer complained about it.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A Jacksonville man who chose to show his support for the new president by wearing a shirt with President Barack Obama's picture has found himself in the middle of a T-shirt controversy.

Shane Rhiles said he wore an Obama shirt to work at a Westside Sam's Club on Monday, but was told by a supervisor to take it off.

"Basically, she said, 'Take the shirt off or go home," Rhiles said.

The T-shirt pays tribute to America's new leader with a simple portrait of Obama. However, Rhiles said something about the shirt got him in hot water at work.

He said a supervisor told him a customer didn't like it, and she told him to change.

"I was like, 'Is it that serious?' She was like, 'Yes, because we don't need any problems.' I was like, 'Well he's the 44th president of the United States of America," Rhiles said.

Rhiles said he was surprised at the order because the T-shirt doesn't say anything offensive, and he said it's just one of the shirts, books and other things he owns saluting the country's new leader.

"He's our president -- the first black president. This is an accomplishment for many people, so I didn't want to take the shift off and I wasn't going to take the shirt off," Rhiles said.

He said he bought another shirt and wore it over the Obama T-shirt, but he also looked up the company's policy.

According to the Sam's Club dress code, clothes must be neat, clean and without holes or ragged edges, clothes must fit well and not be too tight and pants must fit properly.

One thing specified about T-shirts in the store's dress code is that "associates may wear solid color T-shirts and denim shirts with logos as long as they do not contain messages that are offensive, crude or otherwise inappropriate."

"His face is not offensive, to me, I don't know if they may have a problem with it, but I think if you have a problem with his face, you need to reevaluate yourself because he's our president," Rhiles said.

Many of the Sam's Club customer with whom Channel 4 reporter Dan Leveton spoke said they would not have a problem with the T-shirt.

"I'd say to each his own. I mean heck, he's our president now," said one customer.

"It wouldn't bother me. Everybody's entitled to their own opinion. I mean we can't all have the same opinion," said another customer.

Rhiles said he just wants his employers to allow him to wear his Obama shirt.

"I want them to let me be proud. I'm very proud and very happy," Rhiles said.

A representative at Sam's Club's corporate office said the dress policy states employees can wear a solid shirt with the store's logo.

Rhiles said he was never told that, and Leveton reported that when he entered the store he saw employees wearing a lot of different shirts under their Sam's Club vests.

Copyright 2009 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• wdgbatt
• shane
• rhiles
• obama
• t-shirt
• controversy
• jacksonville
• florida
• sams
• club
• walmart
• inc
• 2009

[BeeTeeV]

thats a mess shane..i can't beileve that crap happened to you..I haven't bought an Obama shirt yet but i plan on getting one and I'm going to wear it proudly where ever i go..

[wdgbatt]

Was up man I haven't heard from you in awhile!!

[jiatv]

Ain't that some shit?

[wdgbatt]

Yea It Is!!!!

[Pino4649]

I had the school principal once tell me to remove a patch I had on my jacket that said "Aquaman Sucks" with his mugshot, because it was offensive. I was shocked. What about the foul language in the books we had to read in English class among other things that I find offensive. The whole world is a double standard.

[MisterClean121]

@wdgbatt you look like royce da 5'9

[BeeTeeV]

Hey shane was up man ..sorry if I haven't been around..sorry if i haven't stopped by in a while..Its hard to keep intouch and watch all of my youtube friends videos and stuff..but I'm trying not to neglect anyone.lol..

[Sharmela]

Wow, that is crazy.. I didn't think it was that serious... Lord...

[LadyKOL08]

I'll show up every damn day with Obama paraphernalia on...hats, buttons, shoes and shit! I'll be like this damn Sam's club gonna make the news every damn day since they wanna act brand new and such! :D RIGHT ON!!! ^_^