North Carolina cleaning firm owner criticized for refusing Indian callers

Robert Nolen, owner of a cleaning company in North Carolina, sparked controversy after he used X to tell his team to "profile every client" and specifically said Indian callers would not be counted as leads. In additional posts, he mentioned separating Indian callers and considering price hikes to dissuade them, even stating, "We don’t want your business." The Indian American Advocacy Council has begun a review of Nolen's statements, seeking accounts from Indian clients, applicants, employees, and contractors who believe they were treated unfairly because of their ethnicity or national origin.

The council warned that such conduct could violate Charlotte's local rules that prohibit businesses from indicating that services will be refused or that customers are unwelcome due to national origin. The investigation highlights concerns about racial profiling in small businesses and potential legal ramifications under local anti-discrimination statutes.