89-year-old denied use of gas station bathroom has to pee in grass instead

[Judi Lynn]

Source: The Grio

By Kia Morgan Smith - July 1, 2018


A church-going 89-year-old grandmother on her way home from Sunday service asked if she could use a gas station bathroom and was turned away, reports WBTV.

The church van Evelyn Redic was riding in after church in Charlotte, North Carolina had broken down due to a flat tire. While she waited for the tire to be repaired, Redic strolled over to a nearby gas station and asked if she could use their facilities, but she was told “no.” Redic said the worker told her the bathrooms were only for employees.

. . .

At 89 years old, Redic has experienced many days when she has been denied use of public facilities and her family is taking up to fight to see she never goes through this again.

“People are tired of being mistreated,” Glover said, “and a woman who has been here since 1929, who has gone through that, will not experience that in 2018 without the community fighting.”


Read more: https://thegrio.com/2018/07/01/89-year-old-denied-use-of-gas-station-bathroom-has-to-pee-in-grass-instead/

[irisblue]

1. The correct answer was 'yes ma'am', End of discussion.

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. This

[cstanleytech]

5. Depends on the situation to be honest.

In a perfect world sure however if the employee has a boss that has threatened to fire them then it would put the employee in a tough spot especially if they actually need the job.
After all not everyone is in a secure enough financial position that they can just ignore the bosses orders.

[pnwmom]

9. Any smart employee would calculate that the boss wouldn't want the negative publicity

that would surely result from denying an 89 year old woman the use of the restroom.

They are lucky she didn't just pee on their floor.

[Jedi Guy]

59. I agree.

If you've got bills to pay and kids to feed, and your boss is enough of a prick, you're going to think long and hard before taking any action that might jeopardize your job. And while the story is getting traction now, there's no guarantee it would have gotten traction if the employee had been fired for letting the old lady use the bathroom. Someone getting fired isn't necessarily news; an elder being forced to pee in the bushes is news.

It'd be some cold comfort indeed to think "well, at least I did the right thing" as you're getting evicted from your apartment.

[AZ8theist]

57. followed by the clerks boss saying

YOU'RE FIRED.

(unless, of course, it was the manager who refused. Then maybe protest the business till it goes bankrupt)

I'm fucking sick of the disgusting behavior Dotard has enabled in My America.

[Jedi Guy]

60. I dunno how to break this to you, but...

This has been going on in America for a long time. This kind of thing isn't new, nor is it rare. There have always been assholes in America, whether they're the bosses or the employees. Not every bad thing that happens in America is because of Trump. He definitely enables and emboldens the worst elements of our society, but he's hardly the source of the problem. He's a symptom, in my opinion.

[AZ8theist]

62. you are correct, sir.

It just seems to me ( as a pasty white old guy) that this Nazi behavior is INCREASING since Dotard took over.....

I just can't get my head around the rejection of common decency. Dotard is emblematic of EVERYTHING a HUMAN SHOULD NOT BE.
Yet he is the hero to far to many jerkoffs in America.

Disgusting.

[Jedi Guy]

63. Well yeah.

These chucklefucks figure that if someone as lofty and exalted as President Trump (gag) feels that way, then it must be okay to vent their racist spleens on the world.

Like I said, though, I consider him a symptom rather than a pathogen, as it were. If the ugly, hateful things we're seeing now weren't already present, he'd never have sleazed his way into office. He identified and played to the absolute worst aspects of our culture, and it worked better than he ever dreamed it would (along with a boost from the Russians).

Trump is the sickness in American culture personified. Crass, boorish, ignorant, hateful, prideful, vain, gluttonous, willful, immature, lazy, oafish... he's every trait of the stereotypical "Ugly American" rolled into an orange ball wrapped in an ill-fitting suit with an overlong tie and topped with a bad toupee. And we had just enough idjits willing to reward him for that behavior.

[CatMor]

3. How could you be so cruel to anyone specially someone 89 years old ...

how awful she had to go in the grass. It must have been so difficult for her. I hope she gets a apology from the company and the employees who denied her.

[cstanleytech]

4. First time I have ever heard of a gas station with an employee only

policy for their bathrooms and for retail in general it's pretty rare.

[crazycatlady]

6. I've worked in such stores

One was in a mall which made it easy-- direct customers (3 stores down) to the mall bathroom.

The other one was difficult but we had our reasons. The bathrooms were also used as storage, and it would not pass fire code with how cluttered they were. What if the guest was the fire inspector?

[pnwmom]

10. The 89 year old was extremely unlikely to be the fire inspector. nt

[crazycatlady]

11. I was a minimum wage employee then

Most minimum wage employees do not have authority to go above management's decisions.

[pnwmom]

12. When it goes against common sense, hygiene, and results in bad publicity

even a low wage employee might be advised to make an exception.

That 89 year old might have gone inside and left a puddle on the floor.

[crazycatlady]

13. We once let an older woman use the employee bathroom

She complained about how cluttered it was, and then wanted to speak to a manager and get everyone in trouble because the bathroom was extremely cluttered. She also went #2 and didn't flush. We eventually put a sign on the door that said 'no public bathroom' and people stopped asking.

The clutter (aka boxes of stock) is the reason that the bathroom is not a public bathroom.


It was much easier when I worked at the mall, when the mall itself had customer bathrooms (2 stores down from ours). I just directed people there.

[pnwmom]

14. Gas stations are supposed to let people use a restroom -- by strong custom, if not by law.

That gas station just bought itself a lot of bad publicity.

[crazycatlady]

15. This was not a gas station where I worked

Just out of curiousity I googled it.

Gas stations only have to let you use the restroom if they sell food.

ETA there may be exceptions depending on when the facility was last renovated.

With other facilities, the only ones that have to provide customer bathrooms are superstores, shopping malls, and anywhere that serves food (I'm not talking about a candy bar by the checkout).

AS far as I know the store I used to work at still doesn't have customer bathrooms (nor do their competitors-- this is one of the big 3 chain drug stores).

[forgotmylogin]

7. It's not illegal, but what he did was not very neighborly.

While businesses are required to provide restroom facilities for their employees, not every business is required to allow customers to use these restrooms. If a company chooses to allow public access, they must ensure the facilities conform to local plumbing codes and to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The 'restroom' may have been nothing more than a toilet in a closet. Still, most people would have helped an old gal out.

I wonder if the restroom was noncompliant if they could have gotten in trouble? I'd have just said, "You can use the restroom, but it's not legally equipped for customers, please don't sue us."

[forgotmylogin]

8. Yeah.

This is probably a "hole on the road" garage gas station, not a modern convenience stop like most people are used to.

[xor]

54. I find that's common in downtown areas...

Rarely see closed bathrooms at gas stations outside of city centers.

[Honeycombe8]

16. A gas station w/o a public restroom? Is she Af. American?

OMG. This is horrible. Poster above is correct: The right answer was, "Yes, ma'am. Here's the key."

[griloco]

23. As a courier I've run into quite a few who either

don't have a public restroom or it is chronically "broken".

[Honeycombe8]

28. Bummer. I've never run across that.

And I've stopped at some seedy stations.

[griloco]

29. This was a 7-11 gas station. Under new management now

But I ran into the same problem there

A 1 star review of 7-Eleven by David C.:
https://www.yelp.com/biz/7-eleven-reston-2?hrid=Ne9xShVsDQdKXyh10kt9_g&utm_source=ashare&ref=yelp-android

[Honeycombe8]

32. Oh...it was NOT a gas station. It was a convenience store. No, their bathrooms aren't public.

Usually. So it's not as shocking as I thought. There may really be a rule against public using their bathrooms. An employee could lose his job if he didn't go by the rules. Those employees are pretty low level, not paid much, and probably desperately need their jobs & are barked at all the time by management. So I can understand that, I suppose. If that's the case.

I'm older...I probably would have let her, due to her age, and considered it more of a health thing, a reason to break the rule that time.

[griloco]

36. My bad. It is a gas station. Looks like Sunoco got it now

It's at 11714 Sunset Hls, Reston, VA 20190.

[Honeycombe8]

37. Ohhh. Well, I'm back to being shocked, I guess!!! Lol. nt

[griloco]

40. The funny thing is...

I've had this happen at other 7-11s. But broken rather than "no public restroom". The last two times I enquired as to what the problem was cuz, after all, it's essentially a hole. Both times I was told it wouldn't flush.

As I've been fixing toilets since I was a kid they let me look at them. In one case the handle was broken but all one needs to do is take the tank top off and pull up on the
flapper to flush.

In the other the flapper was disconnected which I was able to fix.

[PoliticAverse]

42. Heh. Good one (or two rather). n/t

[PoliticAverse]

17. "has been denied use of public facilities" - but this apparently wasn't a "public" bathroom.

Should every retail store have a bathroom open to the public?

[heaven05]

19. yes to your question.

or should an 89 year old be told to take a hike or be arrested for needing to use a public accommodation. After all an 89 year old wasn't looking for a toilet to shoot up drugs in.... Karma is getting unbalanced. Wypipo going to hit a wall of resistance. SOON.

[PoliticAverse]

21. Ok, if you think every retail store must provide a public bathroom make it a law. n/t

[heaven05]

31. WTF, an 89 year old person

denied a restroom shows a huge lack of respect and the full blown evil, hateful stupidity of some people. Here I thought we had evolved in 2008-12. SHIT. One election, back to the white supremacy days of old 50's-60's where I matured. 40's 30's where my parents matured. Same bullshit from white people. What if this was a relative of yours? Would you be so cavalier with his or her bladder? It's a matter of human decency in this case. Yet,maybe human decency and respect doesn't mean much to you. Seems so.

[PoliticAverse]

33. At what age do you think it ok to deny someone the use of a restroom? n/t

[heaven05]

35. anything you say.

I'm done with you and your attitude. I repeat, what if this were an 89 year old of your family, IF you have one.

[LanternWaste]

55. I'm not surprised you are unable to see more than two viable options

I'm not surprised you are unable to see more than two viable options (she does not pee, or the reductio ad absurdum fallacy you provided, "every retail store must provide a public bathroom..."

If we allow ourselves to perceive multiple choices, it's that much more difficult to advertise how clever we pretend we are.

Nice work on that...

[crazycatlady]

64. If the bathroom is not public then how is an 89 yo different than a 29 yo or 9 yo?

Private bathrooms are just that.

[griloco]

25. Well, yes. But were I you I'd never kowtow to people's civility

That, after all, is what pants are for.

[PoliticAverse]

27. Personally, I think more retail stores should have public bathrooms...

as the retail store I worked in did.

[heaven05]

18. is she AA

I know she is in this era of hate and mean vicious white people.

[griloco]

26. It might not be racial...

I've run into the same problem and I'm awfully white

[heaven05]

34. might not

but I won't take that to the bank. 89 years old and it was a go to hell from these superior human beings.

[griloco]

38. I got refused at a 7-11 gas station in Reston VA

As did someone's 4 yr old as posted on Yelp.
The station is under new management so I may go back.

11714 Sunset Hls, Reston, VA 20190


A 1 star review of 7-Eleven by David C.:
https://www.yelp.com/biz/7-eleven-reston-2?hrid=Ne9xShVsDQdKXyh10kt9_g&utm_source=ashare&ref=yelp-android

[heaven05]

39. no excuses necessary

I know EXACTLY why this 89 year old AA grandmother was denied a restroom. ESPECIALLY in this trump era and the incident happening in one of the Confederate gray states. Virginia should be proud.

[griloco]

41. You may be right and history would suggest you are, but...

There's no mention of the clerk's race in the original article nor is there any follow up on what the policy at that station is. Regardless, such a "policy" is inhumane.

[heaven05]

46. no mention?

no need in this time and space. It was inhumane. EVIL.

[packman]

52. Same here

At a garden nursery, first time out after an operation. Asked to use the restroom and told "employees only". Left my few hundred dollars worth of greenery on a cart and rushed home - luckily I made it. Never went to that place again.

[pnwmom]

43. Yes.

http://www.wbtv.com/story/38536336/89-year-old-grandmother-denied-use-of-bathroom-at-charlotte-gas-station

[Mountain Mule]

20. If you go back to the original link, it was a Circle K gas station

Not some hope in the wall pit stop. Circle K owes that lady an apology big time.

[NYC Liberal]

22. A photo of Ms Redic, posted without comment (you do the math):

Link: https://www.cbs17.com/news/north-carolina-news/89-year-old-grandmother-denied-use-of-bathroom-at-nc-gas-station/1272582292

[tavernier]

24. OMG!!!

Of all the horrible things in my life, I can completely sympathize with this woman! I was put on antibiotics three times for a severe dental infection, and for close to a year I was plagued with loose bowels, especially when traveling. I had to deal with the humiliation of begging my family to pull off the road so that I could use a facility, often a toilet at a service stop. If I had been denied a key, I would have died of shame, but of course no one dies... I would have messed myself.

To do this to another human being is... well there are just no words.

[Iggo]

30. I don't give a fuck what your policy is. Eighty-nine year old lady gets to use the restroom. (n/t)

[JI7]

44. whatever their policy might be exceptions can always be made, usually for kids and elderly people

[Chemisse]

45. Meh. My suspicion is that she was denied by some kid, enforcing the rules as he was told.

A young worker would not only be reluctant to make an exception, but he would be somewhat clueless about elderly people and the physical challenges they face.

I don't find this shocking at all. I would be disgusted if it was the owner who did this, but I would hardly find it newsworthy. I would be outraged if the bathroom was generally accessible but denied to this one woman because of her race, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

So yeah, it had to have been unpleasant for her, but I don't see this as a big issue.

[brush]

47. There is a photo of the woman denied. She's an AA.

Don't kid yourself that race had nothing to do with it.

[Chemisse]

48. I've been told the rest room was for employees only lots of times, and I am white, female and oldish

As long as this was a long-standing policy, I don't see it as an example of anything other than unkindness.

There is so much to be outraged about - right now - today - that I find it silly to generate it where it is probably not warranted.

[brush]

49. You have no idea what micro-aggressions AAs go thru daily.

Last edited Mon Jul 2, 2018, 10:05 AM - Edit history (2)

[Chemisse]

51. Indeed. I can only imagine. n/t

[Justice]

50. Honestly, even if was employee only most places make exceptions for children and seniors

Really disgusted this place did not.

[Liberty Belle]

53. I was denied use of a restroom once when I was 9 months pregnant

and truly could not wait. It was humiliating. I tried two stores in a strip mall center and both said no, directing me to a fast food place at the far end of the lot. I didn't make it that far and had an embarrassing accident. What they did was immoral but not illegal.

Every place open to the public should have to allow someone in an emergency situation to use a bathroom in my opinion.

But really, a cluttered bathroom is dangerous to employees too so why not just make THAT illegal everywhere? Make them safe, and allow public access.

[silverweb]

61. I had a similar experience.

Like you, I was very close to 9 months, had to go now and knew I'd never make it to another location. I asked where the restroom was and the clerk said it was for employees only.

Out of desperation, I told him that he could 1) make an exception for my very pregnant dire necessity or 2) go get a cleanup bucket for the accident I was about to have at. that. moment. in. his. store.

He personally showed me where the restroom was and even smiled (a little) when I thanked him. Common sense and common courtesy really should be much more common.

[Bengus81]

56. That's the way convience stores around here used to be.......

The bathroom was always "broken",employee's only BS or those older ones you about had to have a membership to get that board with the key on it. Then in the early 70's QuikTrip showed up and always had clean working bathrooms for men and women. Hell they never cared if you were running around and needed to pee without buying anything--then knew you'd be back and buy even more stuff.

They slowly ran all those small POS stores out of here and even the several 7-11's shut down. Look at the size of those bathrooms now on the largest QT's. Too bad that ladies bus didn't break down near a QT,would have never been a story to print.

[Marthe48]

58. Dear Ms. Reddic

Please accept my apologies. Had I been near you, I would have done my utmost to make sure you were comfortable and your needs were met.