'Scuse Me Can I Talk To You For A Minute?

Everybody hates those petition guys that go around asking for signatures on some obscure bill that apparently needs to be put on the ballot for election. The first thing they always ask you is, "Are you a registered voter in California?" However, today I saw a rather funny and awkward situation. As a few Middle-Eastern gentlemen (one with a turban) walked by one of the petition tables, I hear this, "Hey guys! Are you citizens of the United States?" The guys just laughed but I thought to myself, "Wow,that was racist!" I don't know about you, but I certainly wouldn't have signed his petition after that, even though I probably wouldn't have in the first place.