0 A I A With Justice for Ail I. i - AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION of WASHINGTON LU C) May 1, 2017 Jeff Bezos, CEO Amazon 1200 12th Ave South, Suite 1200 Seattle, WA 98144 Via US Postal Service and email: ieff@amazon.com CC: Governor Jay lnslee, Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Seattle City Council, Mayor Ed Murray, Seattle Office of Labor Standards Director Dylan Orr, Seattle Office of Civil Rights Director Patricia Lally, Amazon Director Kara Hurst, Amazon Director John Schoettler Dear Mr. Bezos: We are writing to follow up on claims that have come to our attention about the unfair treatment of Muslim security officers and allegations of harassment by your security contractor, Security Industry Specialists (SIS). As Ramadan approaches, we hope that you can take swift action to ensure that every worker who is part of your Headquarters community is able to fulfill the needs of their job without sacrificing the duties oftheir faith. During Eid and Ramadan, Muslim workers often make requests for accommodations to work certain Shifts or break at specific times, to allow them to be productive during the 30 days of which Muslims abstain from food and drink from pre-dawn to sunset. We have heard several allegations that SIS management has made disparaging comments publicly to their workers, quoted by more than one employee as, ?Don?t blame us ifyou don?t get relievedfor break, blame the Muslims." While we understand that the issue of staffing and accommodations might be an administrative challenge, it is the responsibility of the employer to schedule for breaks. There is also a moral responsibility to allow employees the Space to work and pray without fear of reprisal from co-workers or management. Such ?divide and conquer? tactics are especially dangerous as we see a national rise in hate crimes and discrimination against Muslim communities. We have also heard several stories from Amazon security officers who are employed by SIS that the provision of religious accommodations for prayer iS often arbitrary and inconsistent. Several of these cases have led to employment separation, as tensions rise between Muslim employees and front line supervisors who are making decisions about prayer accommodations. While we understand that SIS workers are not directly employed by Amazon, you have a responsibility for every worker who puts their labor into the Amazon community. Especially as Amazon expands into Middle Eastern markets, we are calling on you to be a leader in fighting lslamophobia here at home. Please respond by May 15th to ishmani0907@gmail.com so we can have time to discuss appropriate remedies before the holiday season. Endorsements Enclosed: 777/? 727.9774 sits-1i --: - Kathleen Taylor, Executive Director Jasmin Samy, Civil Rights Manager -3an Nihad Awad, National Director American Civil Liberties Union Council on American?Islamic Relations Council on American-Islamic Relations Of Washington Of Washington State a see I Abdirisak Ahmed, Executive Director Abdinasir Elmi, Youth Leader Abu?Bakr Islamic Center Abu-Bakr Islamic Center . Rich Stolz, Executive Director Imam Osman Yussuf One America High Point Masjid . run/WM Jnnifer Partch, Associate Pastor Ahmednoor Hassani, President Highline United Methodist Church Youth and Family Service (lg/MM! Yusquden, Manager Jennell L. Hicks, Manager Hope Academy Somali Community Association gWJQ/?fm?? Tsegazeah Gebremichael, Priest Elise DeGooyer, Co-Director St. Emanuael Ethopian Church Faith Action Network Wm?- MW Rev Darrell Goodwin, Senior Pastor Dr. Sam Mhlanga, Pastor Liberation United Church of Christ Bread of Life International Fellowship Rev. Genjo Marlnello, Abbot RabbiJonathan Klein, Director Seattle Zen Temple Clergy and Laity Unitedfor Dal Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen Ji Economic Justice Rev. Ange a Ying Ra/bbi David Basior, Co~ChaIr Bethany United Church of Christ Interfaith EconomIcJustice Coalition Rev Shalom Agtarap Rt Rev Gregory Rickel Burien United Methodist Church Bishop ofOlympia Rev. Lauren Cannon Ra?rlbh?] Helmiere, Minister Keystone United Church ofChrist Valley and Mountain UMC (CAIR) Abdirahman Mohamed, Vice President Uplift Dawah Janey/DH Rev. Shelly Fayette, Rector Chri EpIscopal Church ofSeattIe Rabbi David Basior Kadima Reconstructionist Community ?Asha?Mohamed, President Somali Community Association Vera Rev. Paul Bemctor Faith Action Network x? Pei Wu, Executive Director Jobs with Justice 9? Dr Melvin Fox, Regional President National Baptist Convention Northeast'Region f: I. Laura Barrett, Executive Director Interfaith Worker Justice Vill?ww Rev. Mike Denton, Conference Minister {aclfic Northwest Conference UMC ERIchanEM/trct Superintendent Pacific Northwest Conference UMC