LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — A Lexington restaurant is facing a $25,000 fine for discrimination after kicking out a disabled veteran and her service dog in 2023.
Thanks to the Lexington Human Rights Commission, FOX 56 was able to obtain security camera footage of the inside of The Oasis Mediterranean Restaurant from March 16, 2023. The 7-minute-long video shows Sarah Van Vooren, a disabled veteran, and her service dog, Mooney, entering the restaurant and being seated at a table just before noon.
“At that point, Ms. Van Vooren had been laying a little pad down for her service dog, Mooney, which she normally does when she goes places,” Ray Sexton, Executive Director of the Lexington Human Rights Commission as he explained the series of events during an interview with FOX 56.
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Shortly after getting settled, Van Vooren and Mooney headed towards the bathroom, which required them to go past the buffet. That’s when they were confronted by the restaurant’s then-owner, Ahmad Saleh…