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A bad clothes day at Chula Vista's West Marine
Be careful with MAGA hats, Giants hats, even just baseball caps or a fedora
Heduardo Suchilt (right) "I just came from work."
Imagine not being served at a local business because of your clothes and accessories.
"I'm at West Marine in Chula Vista, this gentleman right here is asking me to leave the store for no rhyme or reason," Heduardo Suchilt said in a viral video filmed at West Marine in Chula Vista as the scene unfolded in July.
"We're asking you to leave," repeated the store manager. "Please leave."
Suchilt, who had just finished a construction job, was booted from the national chain store — which specializes in fishing supplies, boating accessories and parts, and related clothing — because he appeared to be "homeless," according to the manager's audio. The manager continued, saying, "Just get out ... I'm suspecting you of stealing."
But Suchilt pushed back: "Look at the clothes I'm wearing, I just came from work ... I'm doing nothing illegal."
The store manager argued, "You're not shopping."
"I wasn't here just loitering, what's wrong w you, brother?" Suchilt wondered, before turning the camera back to his face. "And he's calling the cops. I cannot believe this; I might look homeless, but because I'm a hard worker — all right?" He then walked out.
After Suchilt left the store and posted the video on Instagram and TikTok, rumors spread that the store manager had been fired. West Marine responded in the Instagram comment section:
"West Marine does not tolerate discrimination of any kind, and we do not condone racial profiling under any circumstances. Following a thorough investigation, we have taken immediate corrective action. Heduardo has graciously shared an update on his TikTok."
On Suchilt’s TikTok, during a recorded phone call, the regional vice president of stores at West Marine said, "We did remove Fernando [the manager] from the business."
Homeless-looking people are not welcome in certain restaurants and coffeehouses unless they purchase a drink. But when I come in wearing slacks, a polo shirt, and my media badge, I’m never questioned — even if I’m not making a purchase and just bumming the internet for email responses.
And it’s not only people who “look homeless” who face this treatment. People wearing MAGA hats have also been discriminated against, especially during President Trump’s second candidacy. But even during his first term, in 2018, a La Jolla Country Day student was asked to remove the MAGA hat. Online, some say they are flat-out refused service when wearing the red hats.
Even sports rivalries have sparked denial of service: at Huntress Steakhouse in downtown San Diego, a woman wearing a San Francisco Giants jersey was reportedly denied entry, according to sandiegoville.com.
Then, not too long ago, some downtown nightclubs stopped allowing baseball caps, "and fedora hats," said Johnny S. "This enforcement sucked, because the hat was part of my ensemble. I dance better with my hat, it's part of my image." Johnny is also an airbrusher and wears his painted-on clothing to stores. "Yes, some workers think I'm homeless, so they speak to me in aggressive tones. I totally understood how that kid buying fishing gear felt. That's not a good feeling when you are ready to spend money, and the managers treat you like crap because you are in your work clothes."
Here's something you might be interested in.
A bad clothes day at Chula Vista's West Marine
Be careful with MAGA hats, Giants hats, even just baseball caps or a fedora
A bad clothes day at Chula Vista's West Marine
Be careful with MAGA hats, Giants hats, even just baseball caps or a fedora
Heduardo Suchilt (right) "I just came from work."
Imagine not being served at a local business because of your clothes and accessories.
"I'm at West Marine in Chula Vista, this gentleman right here is asking me to leave the store for no rhyme or reason," Heduardo Suchilt said in a viral video filmed at West Marine in Chula Vista as the scene unfolded in July.
"We're asking you to leave," repeated the store manager. "Please leave."
Suchilt, who had just finished a construction job, was booted from the national chain store — which specializes in fishing supplies, boating accessories and parts, and related clothing — because he appeared to be "homeless," according to the manager's audio. The manager continued, saying, "Just get out ... I'm suspecting you of stealing."
But Suchilt pushed back: "Look at the clothes I'm wearing, I just came from work ... I'm doing nothing illegal."
The store manager argued, "You're not shopping."
"I wasn't here just loitering, what's wrong w you, brother?" Suchilt wondered, before turning the camera back to his face. "And he's calling the cops. I cannot believe this; I might look homeless, but because I'm a hard worker — all right?" He then walked out.
After Suchilt left the store and posted the video on Instagram and TikTok, rumors spread that the store manager had been fired. West Marine responded in the Instagram comment section:
"West Marine does not tolerate discrimination of any kind, and we do not condone racial profiling under any circumstances. Following a thorough investigation, we have taken immediate corrective action. Heduardo has graciously shared an update on his TikTok."
On Suchilt’s TikTok, during a recorded phone call, the regional vice president of stores at West Marine said, "We did remove Fernando [the manager] from the business."
Homeless-looking people are not welcome in certain restaurants and coffeehouses unless they purchase a drink. But when I come in wearing slacks, a polo shirt, and my media badge, I’m never questioned — even if I’m not making a purchase and just bumming the internet for email responses.
And it’s not only people who “look homeless” who face this treatment. People wearing MAGA hats have also been discriminated against, especially during President Trump’s second candidacy. But even during his first term, in 2018, a La Jolla Country Day student was asked to remove the MAGA hat. Online, some say they are flat-out refused service when wearing the red hats.
Even sports rivalries have sparked denial of service: at Huntress Steakhouse in downtown San Diego, a woman wearing a San Francisco Giants jersey was reportedly denied entry, according to sandiegoville.com.
Then, not too long ago, some downtown nightclubs stopped allowing baseball caps, "and fedora hats," said Johnny S. "This enforcement sucked, because the hat was part of my ensemble. I dance better with my hat, it's part of my image." Johnny is also an airbrusher and wears his painted-on clothing to stores. "Yes, some workers think I'm homeless, so they speak to me in aggressive tones. I totally understood how that kid buying fishing gear felt. That's not a good feeling when you are ready to spend money, and the managers treat you like crap because you are in your work clothes."
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