The Decalogue Society of Lawyers strongly condemns the events of yesterday evening, when a Hebrew-speaking Uber passenger was ejected by the driver of an Uber car while driving on Lower Wacker Drive during rush hour traffic. The passenger, Itay Milner, explained the event in a post on social media: “I was just thrown out of an Uber in the middle of the highway only because I answered my phone in my mother tongue.”
Apart from the extreme danger the Uber driver placed his passenger in, federal, state and local laws protect all people from the kind of discrimination described by Milner.
Though Uber has stated that it has suspended the driver, the Decalogue Society is working with other groups to investigate whether and to what extent federal, state and local laws were violated by the Uber driver and/or Uber. All people in Chicago and Illinois deserve protection against the kind of discriminatory behavior on display last night.
Hate is one of the greatest evils that all societies must confront. And they must confront it decisively. For over eight decades, Decalogue has stood at the forefront of battling against all forms of hate and discrimination and to ensure that our nation remains free for all of its inhabitants. Over its existence, Decalogue has fought to defend the dignity and inherent rights of all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, creed, national origin, sex, or sexual orientation.
Decalogue shall continue to proudly stand among the voices opposing the evils of hate and intolerance. And we look forward to Uber’s full cooperation in responding effectively to the events of yesterday.