Vic Ryckaert

vic.ryckaert@indystar.com

Update, Aug. 4, 2:02 p.m.

Dollar Express released a statement regarding the incident:

“We deeply regret the incident that occurred recently at one of our stores in Gary, Indiana, and we are committed to taking steps to ensure that no customer is ever treated this way again. The conduct of the assistant store manager at that location was not in accordance with company policy and we are addressing this matter with her. We are also taking this opportunity to address with our workforce the importance of meeting the needs of a diverse customer base and providing a shopping environment that is respectful to all of our customers.”

Original story:

A video posted by a Muslim woman as she was being tossed from a Family Dollar store in Gary, Ind., is generating buzz on social media.

"You're telling me I have to leave this store," Sarah Safi told a clerk on the video posted on Vision Islam's Facebook page. "This is a religious garment ma'am."

"You have to understand that this is a high crime area where we get robbed a lot," the clerk told Safi in the video.

"This is a country where we have freedom of religion and freedom of speech," Safi told the clerk. "I have a right to wear whatever I want to wear."

Safi zoomed in to get a clear image of the clerk before exiting the store.

"I'm really saddened. I was born here, raised here all my life and I've never been to an establishment and been treated like this," Safi told abc7news.com.

Safi also told abc7news.com that she wants an apology.

Call IndyStar reporter Vic Ryckaert at (317) 444-2701. Follow him on Twitter: @vicryc.