42 U.S.C. §1981 · Title II of the Civil Rights Act
Retail Discrimination — know your rights
Stores, restaurants, hotels, and services cannot refuse service, impose different conditions, or surveil and search you based on race. §1981 guarantees equal rights to make contracts — including retail purchases.
Your rights
- Service on the same terms as every other customer
- Freedom from being followed, searched, or detained without cause
- Refusal of a bag search where state law doesn't compel it (stores may then refuse service — but not selectively by race)
- Damages under §1981 with no cap for intentional discrimination
How to file with DOJ Civil Rights Division
§1981 claims: up to 4 years. State public-accommodation agencies often require 180 days — file early.
How to document it
- Get employee names and note security camera positions
- Ask for the incident to be documented by the manager and request a copy
- Save receipts proving you were (or tried to be) a paying customer
- Post-incident emails to corporate create a paper trail — send one
Document it before you forget the details
Memory fades and deadlines pass. IronRecord timestamps and encrypts your evidence, counts down your filing window, and generates a court-ready report in one click. Free to start.
Start documenting — freeOther rights guides
This guide is general legal information, not legal advice. Laws and deadlines vary by state and change over time; confirm details for your situation with a civil rights attorney. IronRecord uses conservative deadline estimates so you file with time to spare.