Lowe’s, the home improvement retailer, has fired a manager who ordered a black delivery driver to return to a Virginia store because the customer awaiting the delivery specifically wanted a white driver, according to published reports.
“We have zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind, and we should never have accepted the terms of the sale with the individuals who were delivered to,” Lowes spokeswoman Chris Ahearn told The Washington Post.
Marcus Bradley, who is black, told WSET-TV that he was on his way to make a delivery for Lowe’s recently in Danville, Va., when a manager ordered him to return to the store.
Bradley asked why and the manager reportedly replied, “Because you are black, and they don’t want you at the house,” the television station reported.
Alex Brooks, a white deliveryman who was riding with Bradley, said he was surprised at the order and refused to get back into the truck for the delivery.
Lowe’s, based in Mooresville, N.C., is the No. 2 home improvement retailer behind Atlanta-based Home Depot.
WSET reached the customer who requested a white delivery person. “I got a right to have whatever I want and that’s it,” the unidentified woman told the station.
A Lowe’s statement said: “Under no circumstances should a discriminatory delivery request be honored as it is inconsistent with our diversity and inclusion core values and the request should have been refused.”
Bradley, who has worked for the chain for 11 years, told WSET that despite the incident he will continue working at the store
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