A Cuban chef known on social media as Ale the Cuban has brought to light an alleged incident of discrimination at a U-Haul branch in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Ale claims that a staff member refused to rent him a truck he had previously reserved over the phone, attributing the denial to his inability to speak English.
The situation was made public through a video posted on Facebook from the page of his business, Cuban Pizza ALE and Rache. In the footage, Ale narrates the incident in front of the U-Haul location at 1193 North Academy Boulevard.
"We came to rent a U-Haul right now, and they won't rent to us because we're Cuban, because we don't speak English," he expressed at the beginning of the video, visibly upset by the ordeal.
According to Ale, he had made a reservation by phone, but upon arriving at the site, the employee refused to give him the truck.
In response to the refusal, Ale attempted to have his wife, a U.S. citizen, complete the rental, but claimed that the employee also rejected this option.
"I said, 'I'll put my wife on, who is an American citizen of this country, to rent it,' and he still refused," Ale recounted.
Ale, originally from Trinidad in the Sancti Spíritus province, explained that he has been living in the United States for a decade and has rented U-Haul vehicles numerous times without encountering similar issues.
"In the ten years I've been here, I've rented U-Haul and always done things the right way, as they should be done," he stated.
Ale considered the treatment he received to be discriminatory and voiced his outrage over the incident.
"There's a huge amount of racism in this country. Tremendous racism!" he declared during the video.
The Cuban chef also emphasized the years of hard work and sacrifice that have allowed him to establish several businesses in the United States.
"I own three companies in this country, and since I arrived, I've been making sacrifices," he asserted.
He further noted that one of his businesses is located right next to the U-Haul branch where the incident occurred, making the situation even more infuriating for him.
Angered by the experience, he urged his followers to share the video to raise awareness about his situation. "Let this go viral, so people know what's happening in the United States," he urged.
From Trinidad to Colorado: Ale the Cuban's Journey
Ale and his wife, Rachel Rodríguez Oliva, also from Trinidad, are well-known within the Cuban community in Colorado for their business, Cuban Pizza ALE and Rache, which they launched in the summer of 2022.
The couple started with a food truck specializing in Cuban-style pizzas, gaining popularity for their thick, juicy pizzas and the slogan "If it's not like this, it's not good!"
Their story has also captured attention on social media due to the challenges they faced upon arriving in the United States and the achievements they've made through their hard work.
In October 2024, the couple shared their milestone of purchasing their first home in Louisville, Colorado, for approximately $210,000, after years of effort.
This time, Ale recalled his journey in the country to express his frustration with what he perceives as unfair treatment by the U-Haul employee.
Understanding Allegations of Discrimination at U-Haul
What led to the alleged discrimination incident at U-Haul?
The incident reportedly occurred when Ale the Cuban attempted to rent a U-Haul truck he had reserved by phone, but was refused service allegedly due to his inability to speak English.
How did Ale respond to the refusal to rent the truck?
Ale tried to have his wife, a U.S. citizen, rent the truck instead, but the employee reportedly rejected this alternative as well.
Why is Ale's story significant?
Ale's story highlights issues of discrimination and racism that some immigrants face in the United States, as well as the challenges and successes experienced by immigrants like Ale and his wife in their pursuit of the American dream.