Muslim soldier files bias suit against theater chain

COLUMBUS - A soldier from Fort Benning has filed a federal discrimination suit against Carmike Cinemas and is seeking class action status on behalf of all American Muslims. <br> <br> Juan C. Lugo, a Muslim, filed suit six weeks after he refused to remove his ``kufi,&#39;&#39; a traditional Muslim religious headpiece. As a result, he and his wife and five children were allegedly ordered to leave The Hollywood Connection complex, operated by Carmike. <br> <br> That&#39;s unlawful under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to the suit filed by Columbus attorney Joseph Wiley. Wiley is asking U.S. District Court Judge Clay Land to authorize the suit as a class action on behalf of the nation&#39;s more than 6 million Muslims. <br> <br> Columbus-based Carmike, which operates about 2,300 screens in 35 states, had no comment Wednesday, spokeswoman Suzanne Brown said. <br> <br> In a response to the incident published Jan. 9, the cinema company stated that its dress code includes prohibition of attire that identifies gang affiliation, including headbands, ski caps, skull caps, stocking caps and bandanas. <br> <br> ``When senior management on site recognized Mr. Lugo&#39;s apparel was religious in nature, an attempt to immediately reconcile the situation was unsuccessful,&#39;&#39; the release stated.

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