BACKWARD CAP FLAP COSTS COUNTY $30,000.Byline: Lee Condon and Charles Bostwick Daily News Staff Writers Zurich Sellers walked into the Antelope Valley Mall The Antelope Valley Mall is an enclosed shopping mall in Palmdale, California. Opened in September, 1990, its buildings take up around 1 million square feet (90,000 m²). Its physical main building, parking lots, and ring road businesses encompass an area a bit less than 0. two years ago to buy some shoes. On Tuesday, the 23-year-old Palmdale man walked away with $30,000 -- Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County's apology for arresting Sellers for a fashion statement that patrolling sheriff's deputies considered outside the mall's anti-gang dress code. He wore his baseball cap backward. ``I didn't think I was doing anything wrong,'' Sellers said. ``I didn't see anyone else getting singled out except me.'' The county's Claims Board approved the payout pay·out n. 1. The act or an instance of paying out. 2. A percentage of corporate earnings that is paid as dividends to shareholders. rather than defend against a federal lawsuit in which Sellers claimed in part that he was falsely arrested and discriminated against because he is African-American. In recommending that the case be settled, Deputy County Counsel S. Robert Ambrose Dr. Robert J. Ambrose is the sixth musical director and conductor of the Atlanta Wind Symphony. He serves on the faculty of Georgia State University. Ambrose received a Bachelor of Arts in computer science with a concentration in music from Boston College. said Sellers' right to wear his cap backward is protected by the First Amendment and that the mall rule forbidding such attire - which no longer is enforced by deputies - was unconstitutional unconstitutional adj. referring to a statute, governmental conduct, court decision or private contract (such as a covenant which purports to limit transfer of real property only to Caucasians) which violate one or more provisions of the U. S. Constitution. . ``The sheriff did what he was supposed to do at that time,'' Ambrose said. ``It was probably silly for us to make an arrest on that thing.'' Sellers' lawyer, Paul L. Hoffman, said: ``It was certainly our allegation The assertion, claim, declaration, or statement of a party to an action, setting out what he or she expects to prove. If the allegations in a plaintiff's complaint are insufficient to establish that the person's legal rights have been violated, the defendant can make a that race played a role. Kids wear their hats backward there all the time, particularly the white kids.'' The mall is also named in the lawsuit. Christopher Ted Olsen, a lawyer for the mall, could not be reached for comment. Sellers was arrested on suspicion of trespassing Aug. 18, 1995, after stopping at the mall with his cousin on the way home from basketball practice at College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. . He wore white, yellow and black Grambling University shorts, a Quiksilver T-shirt, sandals and a Pittsburgh Steelers
``It looked like I was about to go out to the beach,'' Sellers said. ``I guess they thought it was gang attire.'' At the mall, a sheriff's deputy walked up and told Sellers to turn his cap around or leave the mall. He declined and pointed out other people in the mall wearing their caps the same way. ``I said, `Look at all the Caucasians with their hats on backward,' '' Sellers said. ``(The deputy) said: `Don't worry about them. Worry about yourself.' '' Sellers said he was taken to a mall substation and handcuffed after refusing the deputy's demands. He was released to his father, James Sellers, who returned to the mall with a video camera at a later date, taping white youths wearing baseball caps backward. ``I even had the assistant manager (decorating) the mall Christmas tree Christmas tree Evergreen tree, usually decorated with lights and ornaments, to celebrate the Christmas season. The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands as symbols of eternal life was common among the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. with his hat on backward,'' James Sellers said. ``The Caucasian kids had their hats on backwards and they passed by the police and the police wouldn't say anything.'' The trespassing charge was dropped against Sellers, who then filed his lawsuit. ``It was a public place and my son had a right to be there,'' James Sellers said. ``I felt like it was an injustice and they were discriminating dis·crim·i·nat·ing adj. 1. a. Able to recognize or draw fine distinctions; perceptive. b. Showing careful judgment or fine taste: against my son. I always told him if you're right, you stand up for what is right.'' Lt. David Collin, who oversees operations for the Sheriff's Department's Palmdale station, said deputies no longer take an active role in enforcing the wide-ranging dress code at the mall. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO (color) Zurich Sellers Protested '95 arrest |
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