All Black People Asked To Leave Walmart Over Loud Speaker

[my2sense]

Source: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local-beat/All-Black-People-Asked-to-Leave-South-Jersey-Walmart-88118157.html

Wal-Mart officials are looking at security tapes after an announcement was made for "all black people'' to leave a store in South Jersey.

A man used the public-address system at the Route 42 store in Washington Township Sunday night and calmly announced: "Attention Wal-Mart customers: All black people leave the store now.''

Patricia Covington and Shelia Ellington were inside the store when it happened and told the Courier Post that customers and store employees looked stunned when they heard it.

"In 2010, I want to know why such statements are being made because it flies in the face of what we teach them at home, and that's tolerance for people," said Ellington.

Ellington and other customers let store management and police know they were upset.

They asked the store to use the same announcement system to apologize to customers that night, which it did.

Wal-Mart management called the incident "unacceptable," and said it's working to make sure nothing like this happens at any other stores.

Washington Township police and the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office are investigating the incident as a possible bias crime.

"I can't believe it in this day and age," Covington told the paper. "Wal-Mart needs to be more responsible."

Covington and Elllington are boycotting the store.

[louis-t]

1. Need about 100 million more to boycott WM.

[Occulus]

43. As much as I bash WalMart, I doubt this was their fault

Sincere mea culpa if it turns out it was an employee that made the announcement, but the store paging numbers are often known to many people who don't actually work there. I myself have had more than one friend tell me the PA numbers for full-store announcements at a nearby Target and several nearby Meijer stores, and those can usually be made from any phone in the store, including those used by customers to call someone to the department or make an in-store call to customer service.

Had I been an employee there, I would have immediately responded on the store's PA system with "Would the person who made the recent invitation please come to the outer rear of the store for a beating with a hose from our garden department? Repeat, would the person who made the recent invitation please come to the outer rear of the store for a beating with a hose from our garden department?"

It probably would have gotten a big laugh, at least. It certainly wouldn't be a news story.

WHY are we so complacent these days? Why didn't the WalMart associates do anything about it? Were they all zoned out from their marijuana prescription, and didn't want to be fired for smoking a joint the previous day for the cancer they're carrying around?

(that last is snark. I have a bee in my bonnet tonight.)

[louis-t]

44. My comment wasn't in regard to this matter.

Just a general FU to Wally World.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Mz Pip]

2. So some asshole gets a hold

of a microphone and babbles out this racist statement and it is somehow Wal-Mart's fault? If it was one of their employees then that might be justified but there is no indication that it was.

I'm no fan of Wal-Mart but unless this piece of shit worked there I don't see a reason to blame the store.

[itsrobert]

4. I would think a store like Walmart would have a pass code to enter to use the PA Phone system

Which points to an employee. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Mz Pip]

10. If it turns out to be an employee

then the scumbag should be fired. Immediately.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. I have a question, because this is systemic

why is it that China was guilty of lead in toys and NOT HASBRO?

Why is it that China is guilty of child labor laws and not MAC?

Why is it that Mr. Stykes is a scumbag but not Toyota?

Why is it that the Employees at ENRON were guilty of losing their money and not well ENRON?

Why is it that a person is guilty of saying this over a PA and not Wallmart?

See an interesting pattern here?

Not you in particular, except the last one, but we as a culture GIVE CORPORATIONS a pass regularly. Why is that?

Don't bother answering it... just think about it. Because until this in the culture changes (not that I am counting om that happening, we are pretty much stuck)

[Mz Pip]

21. I'll answer it anyway.

If HASBRO knew the toys had lead in them, then they should be guilty.

I have a real problem with corporations that ship their manufacturing to any country that violates child labor standards. I wish more people did.

I don't know if Mr. Stykes is a scumbag or not. If he faked his acceleration problem then he is. The American people, as well as the families of those who died because of Toyota's faulty computers aren't anywhere near finished with Toyota. Toyota will pay big time for this.

ENRON, as a corporation, was guilty. It went banckrupt. It no longer exists. The powers that be in ENRON are either dead, like Lay and Baxter or in jail, like Fastow and Skilling. But should the receptionist be guilty also? The custodian? I don't think so.

And if the asshole who said that shit was a Wal-Mart employee, then there will be plenty of guilt thrown their way. Most of us don't shop there now because of their employment practices. This will just add a bunch more angry customers to the list.

But I am not willing to blame Wal-Mart if this was some random shit-for-brains idiot off the streets. If some idiot stole my car and ran over someone, I wouldn't think it should be my fault. However, if I knowingly gave the keys to a drunken acquaintance and he ran over someone, then I would certainly bear some of the responsibility.

I'm not really arguing with you. Corporations have too much power and should be held to much greater accountability than they are.

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. Since you answered

realize that ALL corps have a bean counter who's job is to figure out how many lawsuits we can absorb before we deal with a safety issue. Why HASBRO paid a blind eye to the manufacturing in China... why Mac still uses child labor and so does... oh Walmart and a slew of others. Why Toyota is doing what they are doing...

And yes when ENRON exploded I still remember people blaming the employees who lost their shirts and then some... then at the AOL boards. Hell some folks blame the employees to this day.

We need a SYSTEMIC change in our COLLECTIVE ATTITUDE. Regarding Wally Mart... it does not matter whether this was Joe six pack coming from the street (bad security) or one of their employees. They hold some responsibly. It is just a matter of how much.

This is part of the damn culture. We reflexively defend those who produce and supply our baubles. It is part of the culture of consumption we live in.

For the record, I am fully aware that the IPOD touch I use every day was produced with child labor so was the Macbook and the Toshiba machines we use. And so are a slew of other stuff we consume. It gives me no pleasure to know that, but it is getting to the point where I am about to give up in trying to effect that change... it is like fighting a tsunami... but if we are... it is time to change our world view, and actually not go after the individual reflexively every time.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

23. If it turns out to be an employee......

....did Wal-Mart hand them a memo telling said employee to read such a statement?

If not, then where does that leave the blame?

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. In this particular case either wally mart has bad security

or bad employee policies. Regardless, they are responsible. To what extent is a good question.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

32. Well, we've certainly heard from employees of other places.....

....it's probably not that hard for someone to get a hold of an phone intercom at a closed register.....

As far as bad employee policies......unless they asked "Are you a racist" or "Do you plan to act like an irresponsible ass during your time here?" during the job interview, I don't know how they protect against those things.

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. and my point is that it is high time

we stop defending, reflexively mind you, corporations.

if they can deny you service because it is private property, they are damn responsible for what happens on their property.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

51. So, what do they have to do to appease you on this issue?

Aside from firing the employee, if it is an employee, what else do they need to do to make you happy?

[Gaedel]

61. Responsibility

Suppose you go to the yellow pages and hire a guy to cut your lawn or clean your pool.

While he is working for you at your house, he sees your next door neighbor sunbathing and he jumps over the fence and sexually assaults her.

How much moral or legal responsibility do you have for the guy you hired??

[Mz Pip]

27. I think they do have

the responsibility to fire the person.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

29. I think that's a given (n/m)

[nadinbrzezinski]

36. And what if this is Joe Six Pack

that just walked in?

And I hate to say this, they ARE responsible.

[Mz Pip]

38. How???

Why?

Would you say the same if some idiot had done the same at Trader Joes? Best Buy?

Is any store supposed to be responsible for any jerk that walks through their doors?

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. Yes, every store is responsbile

Indeed.

I don't care if this is an idiot going, blacks get out at Wally, or Liberals get out at Whole Foods or Trader Joe's. Ultimately THE MANAGER is responsible for what happens at his store, and so does the company.

I am tired of giving corps a pass. PERIOD.

Sadly until at least another 150 million Americans stop giving a pass, NOTHING will change.

By the way why? They are people right? So we are told? You want a physical person to be responsible, well I know a corporate (fictional) one is also responsible. And in this case POTENTIALLY could put you at risk. I could go through several scenarios of how this could potentially could put you and me at risk, but for most round these parts it is just paranoid thinking, so I will stop going there.

[Mz Pip]

40. I do not see how

any company can be held responsible for every crackpot that walks through their doors.

what do you propose? Some kind of psychological evaluation for every shopper? How is any store supposed to prevent this kind of crap?

You want to hold them responsible? Fine. Give me a recipe on how they are supposed to control the actions of anyone and everyone crossing their threshold.

[nadinbrzezinski]

41. They do it all the time

if you happen to be of a certain color of skin.

Or have a certain accent. (Yes that has happened to me)

Or if you do not look like the right profile to be in their store. (To me and my husband)

It has an ugly name but companies do. And we have noticed since we are more observant, I guess.

And as I said, if this was an employee somebody will lose their job. If this was NOT an employee, my suspicion quite frankly, they are still responsible. And this is not a loss issue (though the distraction could easily be used for that, by the way), but a security issue.

I know you don't see it, and that's ok. Quite frankly that is a good thing.

There are so many things that corps are always given a pass. I mean it was a crackpot and all... Well that crackpot could be doing a slew of things at that store, with less than good intentions, well beyond insulting a whole group of people.

And I will leave it at that. There is no use in trying to explain this. Bless your heart, most people really don't see this, and that is a good thing.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

52. Responsible for WHAT?

If a guy walks into my store and pisses on my floor, it's my fault? (Yes, this has happened to me)

If a drunk guy walks in my store and starts screaming the N-word, what am I supposed to do to about it other than call the cops?

If a guy walks in and holds up the place, I did something wrong?

What do you want from Wal-Mart to respond to the situation?

[Codeine]

11. Nah, it's usually just a handset for a phone

located at each register. Push the button and you're live on the air. Little kids sneak up and babble into ours all the time.

[-..__...]

20. It's not like they're ICBM launch codes.

A quick Google search and I found out it's either #96 or #9611.

Even if that info is outdated, it's the kind of stuff that's easily discovered by watching an employee.

[Xithras]

30. They sort of do.

Generally the PA is simply another extension in the phone system. At Walmart, you can reach the PA by picking up a handset and dialing #96. At Fred Meyers, it's 1800. Every store is different, and they don't generally publish the numbers, but they're easy enough to find on the Internet. If you shop at a store long enough and are looking, you can usually find someone punching it in at some point. If not, a little human engineering works. Go to Gardening and note the extension on their phone. Wait until they're slammed with customers, pick up the phone elsewhere in their store, and dial their extension. "Hi, this is Don from (wherever your phone is at). I was trying to page security and must have punched the wrong extension. What's the PA extension again?" 9 times out of 10, they'll answer, "It's 12345" and hang up on you.

Don't ask me why I know that...

[slutticus]

34. Only if you consider "50" a passcode.

[Occulus]

45. Usually it's just a three-digit number that accesses the in-store PA system

Keep in mind, those same phones can be used by customers in the store to contact customer service or various departments.

[bighart]

48. You are wrong.

There is no passcode to enter, just have to dial the correct extension to access the pa system.

[Chemisse]

5. LOL - I should have read your post first

I assumed it was an employee just because the mike is probably not just sitting out for anyone to grab. Even if so, employers can only take so much responsibility for the unauthorized actions of their employees.

[Chemisse]

3. Clearly some asshole employee got hold of the microphone

Much as I despise Walmart, I very much doubt it is their fault.

[PCIntern]

6. WTF?

that's a bit much, even for Washington Twp.

You'd be surprised what people say to me, as though I would possess a sympathetic ear...

They learn real fast not to do that in this office...

[tallahasseedem]

15. My husband is from...

Washington Township and said the same thing as well!

[quinnox]

7. Doesn't surprise me

Wal-Mart sucks, fuck 'em. Would never shop there, I don't want their crappy merchandise. You get what you pay for.

[Fire1]

9. +1000000 n/t

[Name removed]

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[Codeine]

8. Wal*Mart can eat shit and die, and so can its customers.

That said, this incident sounds like some random douchebag grabbed a PA phone and rattled off some teabagger-esque nonsense. Not the store's fault and not really anything worth getting worked up over.

"Random white people are often racist! Who knew?!"

[hex29a]

18. Uh, do I need to eat shit and die? I'm a WM customer.

And my mom works at one.

yikes

[zonkers]

46. I once bought a disposable razor there. I guess I am a marked man too.

[demwing]

53. People who bash all WalMart customer indiscriminately can eat shit and die

You do understand that there are many here who shop WalMart, don't you?

[Name removed]

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[proteus_lives]

66. I'm going there tonight.

Why do you want me killed? :eyes:

[Grand Taurean]

12. I don't shop at Wal-Mart so

they don't get my money in the first place.

[The Genealogist]

13. Not seeing if this was an employee or someone off the street

Looks to me, from a follow-up story, that anyone can just use this PA system:

"Bill Mitchell, a former Wal-Mart employee, told NBC Philadelphia that anyone could walk up to one of the phones and make a page.

'You go there, tap the phone, hit the key a couple of times and it goes 'beep, beep, beep' and its on the intercom,' he said."

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local-beat/Wal-Mart-Paging-Victims-It-Was-Disgusting-88264047.html



Adding On edit: I really don't think it matters much to Wal-Mart what skin color the person handing over the cash has, so long as it makes their stock holders richer.

[Canuckistanian]

14. Now that's shocking

Walmart gets a large share of it's business from impoverished blacks.

Look for a mega-mea culpa from Walmart potentates tomorrow.

They know what side their bread is buttered on.

[Gaedel]

63. Regardless of the economics of the situation

If I was running a company and had something like this happen, I would immediately make a heartfelt apology and then investigate to see if I can find a guilty employee for termination. I think that will be Walmart's course of action.

[Mojambo]

16. What is a "bias crime?"

Is it the replacement for hate crime?

[hex29a]

19. It intersects all ethnic, social and political positions at a 45 degree angle.

I suppose...
shrug

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

24. Anyone can walk up to a phone and press intercom,

I was in a Circuit City and there was an announcement that the store was under attack by zombies and to please arm yourself,

[Xithras]

28. Yep, we used to have fun with store intercoms when I was younger.

"Price check on Trojans Mens Condoms, extra small, to register two please? Price check on extra small Trojan condoms to register two."

Yeah, it was infantile, but I was a bit of a smartass when I was 18.

[Liberal_in_LA]

37. hee hee!

[LoZoccolo]

26. "Attention: everything in Meijer's is free."

"Awwwwwwww shit, we're gonna get laaaaaaaaid tonight!"
"James White? Try to rush me? Boy you must be crazy!"
"I am the inventor of Boolean logic. If you want to use it, you have to pay the license fee to use the Boolean logic."

All of these have actually been said over PA systems. Cranking the PA system is a game as old as PA systems, and unfortunately sometimes taken too far. If there was an easy way to stop it, I think they would have done so sometime in the past fifty years.

[AlinPA]

31. Looks like some teabagger got hold of the mike. nt

[stevedeshazer]

33. I hate to defend Wal-Mart here, but it was the employee that was wrong.

I loathe Wal-Mart, but just because some bonehead decided to announce publicly that he's a racist doesn't mean Wal-Mart is at fault.

The person who made the announcement deserves the scorn.

[dems_rightnow]

50. Absolutely

It's not a corporate thing.

[Name removed]

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[marmar]

42. This is one black person who's never stepped foot into an Apall-Mart....

..... and never will.

[Name removed]

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[snooper2]

47. Here's a collection of walmart intercom pranks....

doesn't take a rocket scientist to perform

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTInlZmSkb0

[LeftinOH]

49. Having worked in a big-box, I can affirm that access to the loudspeaker is easy

....and disgruntled employees, employees playing stupid pranks, employees who work at a different store in the same chain, AND ex-employees can (and do) use the loudspeakers for stupid, vulgar crap like this. Usually, if they can't be identified -they don't get caught.

[kgnu_fan]

57. ALL people need to leave Wall Mart! Don't go there!!!!

[Hosnon]

62. South Jersey?

I thought this kind of thing only happened in the South?

[whopis01]

65. Yeah - a lot of people think that.

A lot of people are wrong.

[Hosnon]

67. My post was sarcasm. nt.

[WolverineDG]

68. According to some folks on DU nt

[krabigirl]

64. wtf...seriously, wtf