Statement of Ines Bello Castillo

Name:                         Ines Bello Castillo
Age:                            24

STATEMENT:  

My name is Ines Bello Castillo and I am a 24-year-old Latina woman from Mexico. I lived in New York City for seven months before returning to Mexico. I worked as a housekeeper at the Broadway Plaza Hotel for only one week before being fired for resisting the sexual advances of my supervisor, Felix Ramirez.<?xml:namespace prefix = w /> 

On two separate occasions during my week of employment, Mr. Ramirez attempted to force himself on me in the elevator. On the first occasion, he forcibly hugged me and attempted to kiss me. When I evaded his kiss, he started to make fun of me, saying that I was afraid of him and then reached in to hug me again. I told him to let me go or I would scream. The second time he attempted to force himself on me, I resisted again and told him that he could not make me do anything with him that I did not want to do.

After I rejected Mr. Ramirez's advances, he punished me by ordering me to do more than my share of work. At the end of my shift, he told me not to come to work the next day. July 10, 2003 was my last day of employment at the hotel.

I know that if I had accepted Mr. Ramirez's advances, I would not have been fired. In fact, I probably would have received more work and hours with additional pay because Mr. Ramirez had told me that I was a good and fast worker. I am filing this suit because I do not think a woman should be fired for fighting off the sexual advances of her boss.