Florida Man Accused Home Depot of Religious Discrimination

A Florida man accused Home Depot of religious discrimination after being fired for wearing “One Nation under God” button in his job, saying that the company does not allow expression of religious beliefs.Trevor Keezor, a former cashier for the retail company, said that Home Depot has always been critical about personal expressions of his beliefs, saying that it was the reason why he got fired from his job.

“I have been fired for wearing the button for well over a year. I was just doing what I think everyone should do, to support and love my country and God,” Keezor added.The button, which states “One Nation under God, Indivisible” was bought by Keezor at a Florida store in March 2008 and he has been wearing it on his work apron ever since.

A month before he got fired, Keezor said that he has been reading the Bible during lunch breaks at the store located in Okeechobee, some 140 miles north of Miami. Home Depot management allegedly accosted him and told him to get rid of the button.

On October 23, he was fired after refusing to abide the order. “It was like a punishment, a punishment for just loving my country,” he said.But Home Depot Spokesperson Craig Fishel said that the cashier was fired because of dress code violation.

“The religious button and its message is not the issue. We have a long-standing blanket policy which says that only company-provided pins and badges can be worn on workers aprons,” he added.Keezer also refused to wear a “United We Stand” button offererd by the company, Fishel said.