Attention, Walmart customers: All black people, leave the store now

**Prince** · 03-18-2010, 10:27 AM

Blacks must leave store, NJ Walmart announcer says, upsetting customers; company investigates

Virginia Tinsley, of Washington Township, N.J., answers a question Wednesday, March 17, 2010, outside a Wal Mart store in Washington Township, N.J., where she and others complained Sunday about comments that came over the store's public address system. Wal-Mart officials are reviewing security tapes after an announcement was made for "all black people" to leave the southern New Jersey store. Shortly before 7 p.m. Sunday, a male voice came over the public-address system at the Route 42 store in Washington Township and calmly announced: "Attention Wal-Mart customers: All black people leave the store now." Management later apologized. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) -- A Walmart store announcement ordering black people to leave brought chagrin and apologies Wednesday from leaders of the company, which has built a fragile trust among minority communities.

A male voice came over the public-address system Sunday evening at a store in Washington Township, in southern New Jersey, and calmly announced: "Attention, Walmart customers: All black people, leave the store now."

Shoppers in the store at the time said a manager quickly got on the public-address system and apologized for the remark. And while it was unclear whether a rogue patron or an employee was responsible for the comment, many customers expressed their anger to store management.

"I want to know why such statements are being made, because it flies in the face of what we teach our children about tolerance for all," said Sheila Ellington, who was in the store at the time with a friend. "If this was meant to be a prank, there's only one person laughing, and it's not either one of us."

Ellington, of Monroe, and her friend Patricia Covington said they plan to boycott the retailer until they're assured the issue has been addressed so it doesn't happen again.

The pair said they were stunned when they heard the announcement and initially believed they had misheard it. But once the words sank in, they grew angry.

"I depended on Walmart for all my needs, because the store has pretty much everything you could want," Covington said. "But until this issue is addressed in a way I'm comfortable with, I can't walk through those doors again."

Officials with Wal-Mart Stores Inc., based in Bentonville, Ark., said that the announcement was "unacceptable" and that they're trying to determine who made it and how it happened.

"We are just as appalled by this incident as our customers," the company said in a statement. "Whoever did this is just wrong and acted in an inappropriate manner. Clearly, this is completely unacceptable to us and to our customers."

This is not the first time the retailer has faced such problems.
There have been several past instances of black customers claiming they were treated unfairly at Walmart stores, and the company faced lawsuits alleging that women were passed over in favor of men for pay raises and promotions.

In February 2009, the retailer paid $17.5 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging racial discrimination in its hiring of truck drivers.

And the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued the company in May 2009, claiming some Hispanic employees at a Sam's Club subsidiary in California were subjected to a hostile work environment. That suit alleges managers failed to stop repeated verbal harassment, including the use of derogatory words, against employees of Mexican descent.
However, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has said the company has worked hard in recent years to show it cares about diversity.

Bill Mitchell, a former Walmart employee who was shopping Wednesday at the store, said that he was saddened to hear about the announcement but that "as a black man, I've heard worse things."

As customer Sharon Osbourne, of Williamstown, left the store Wednesday, she called the announcement "appalling, stupid and sad."

Black people must leave, NJ Walmart announcer says - Yahoo! Finance

**ceazur** · 03-18-2010, 11:41 AM

Dam that's funny. Disrespectful ,but funny. That guy had a steel pair between his legs.

**soxmuscle** · 03-18-2010, 12:16 PM

Clearly some wise-guy employee who doesn't care whether or not his position at the store remains intact thought it would be funny.

I kind of agree with him.

That guy saying he "can't step through the doors again" needs to stop being a drama queen and realize that Walmart had nothing to do with it.

**ceazur** · 03-18-2010, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

Clearly some wise-guy employee who doesn't care whether or not his position at the store remains intact thought it would be funny.

I kind of agree with him.

That guy saying he "can't step through the doors again" needs to stop being a drama queen and realize that Walmart had nothing to do with it.

There's a group of pissed off customers talking to lawyers right now trying to figure out how to make a quick penny because an employee or roaming customer phone the intercom and made a remark..

**DOMS** · 03-18-2010, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by ceazur

There's a group of pissed off customers talking to lawyers right now trying to figure out how to make a quick penny because an employee or roaming customer phone the intercom and made a remark..

They're black Americans, it's what they live for.

**maniclion** · 03-18-2010, 02:26 PM

Looks like the Announcer got his wish cause they're going to boycott Walmart. I think it's stupid for them to let some idiot win by making them not want to go back....

What they probably don't realize is that there are intercom phones on poles in the middle of aisles that any customer could pick-up. I used to work their & I used to know the code for the Public Address system....

**toothache** · 03-18-2010, 04:08 PM

At least dude said "black people" and not the "N" word.

**DaMayor** · 03-18-2010, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by maniclion

Looks like the Announcer got his wish cause they're going to boycott Walmart..

So, how do they know it wasn't a Black Man who did it?

**ALBOB** · 03-18-2010, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by DaMayor

So, how do they know it wasn't a Black Man who did it?

Because the quote would have been, "Yo homies, get the fuck out........NOW"

**DaMayor** · 03-18-2010, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by ALBOB

Because the quote would have been, "Yo homies, get the fuck out........NOW"

Ah, but that would have been Pre-Obama-bonics.

**FMJ** · 03-18-2010, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by DOMS

They're black Americans, it's what they live for.

I agree DOMS. I'll bet if they had announced "All white people please leave now" it wouldn't have even made the news.

**KelJu** · 03-18-2010, 05:35 PM

One side of me thinks this sounds like losers to me to make a huge deal out of it.

However, I remember one time when I was looking for a goodbarber who could trim my bead without fucking up the braid that I had going. I heard good things from the black girls that cuts my hair to check out a barber shop in the black area of town.

When I walked in, the place stopped like in the movies where you hear the record scratch. It was an old soul barber shop type of place. Everyone was very friendly, except I heard some guy mumble something like "wha'd dat cracka doign here". I would be lying if I said it didn't bother me some. I also never went back. I didn't hold the workworks of the barber shop at blame, but I just didn't feel like going back there.

Then again, walmart is a big ass place where any retard could have done that. I don't really think the two situations are comparable.

**GearsMcGilf** · 03-18-2010, 11:11 PM

Wal-Mart should pay $1000 to every AA in the United States. Anything less is unacceptable.

**theCaptn'** · 03-19-2010, 03:36 AM

everyone should just chill the fuck out . . niggers included

**SYN** · 03-19-2010, 06:31 AM

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

Clearly some wise-guy employee who doesn't care whether or not his position at the store remains intact thought it would be funny.

I kind of agree with him.

That guy saying he "can't step through the doors again" needs to stop being a drama queen and realize that Walmart had nothing to do with it.

At the walmart in Lincoln I'd pick up the phones and page people to the different departments if no one was there and I needed help. It's not that hard, you just pick up the phone and talk in it, it could have been anyone.
People need to take a chill pill about it though. They're acting as if walmart had some kind of meeting and planned it all out or some shit. I hate walmart with a passion, but.....

**AKIRA** · 03-19-2010, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by CaptRichArund

everyone should just chill the fuck out . . niggers included

In all seriousness, they,

Ok, seriously, it was a prank and a timid one at that. I can see why it made for news though, its interesting! Blacks really need someone BLACK to come forward and say "guys, it was a cheap prank. theres nothing we can do about it, so stop crying." Because, really, the biggest reason why this happens and happens again REPEATEDLY, is their reaction. People know they are going to get ALL STIRRED UP, so wha-la, Mission Accomplished.

Its lasting effect is the feeling of wanting someone else to do something bigger to antagonize them!

**sprayherup** · 03-19-2010, 09:52 AM

Fuck the nigs. Fuck em if they can't take a joke.

They want to label this a hate crime. You have to be kidding me.

**jcar1016** · 03-19-2010, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by DOMS

They're black Americans, it's what they live for.

Yeah wats the big deal everyone knows walmart loves black people thats why they take food stamps

**Dark Geared God** · 03-19-2010, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by CaptRichArund

everyone should just chill the fuck out . . niggers included

Amen my nigga

**Tyler3295** · 03-19-2010, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by ceazur

Dam that's funny. Disrespectful ,but funny. That guy had a steel pair between his legs.

More than that.

haha

**GearsMcGilf** · 03-19-2010, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by CaptRichArund

everyone should just chill the fuck out . . niggers included

Aren't aborigines the equivalent of aussie niggers?

**theCaptn'** · 03-19-2010, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by GearsMcGilf

Aren't aborigines the equivalent of aussie niggers?

abo's make niggers look like charming motherfuckers

**DOMS** · 03-20-2010, 06:22 AM

Originally Posted by CaptRichArund

abo's make niggers look like charming motherfuckers

Are they really that bad? How so?

**sprayherup** · 03-20-2010, 09:03 AM

Is it me or do all kniggs drive fucking annoyingly slow?

**GearsMcGilf** · 03-20-2010, 10:25 AM

We don't have abors here in Alabamer. Just lots of niggers and spics. I can't imagine any race that would make niggers look charming. Not all of them are bad, but the southern niggers are some of the laziest most entitled people in the cuntry. Those abors must be some nasty mfers.

**FMJ** · 03-20-2010, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by sprayherup

Is it me or do all kniggs drive fucking annoyingly slow?

Holy shit! I thought I was the only one who noticed this shit!
Not only do they drive slow in the left but goddamn if you try to ride thier ass, they will NOT move the fuck over! No driving etiquette whatsoever!
I'm a lead foot myself but if I got someone coming up behind me, I move over. I don't spitefully block them. Few things piss me off more.

**sprayherup** · 03-20-2010, 10:56 AM

Werd!! They're just fucking lazy. And being "helped" by one of them is the absolute worst!

**Fetusaurus Rex** · 03-20-2010, 11:42 AM

Teen charged in NJ Walmart racial comment case - Yahoo! News

By BRUCE SHIPKOWSKI, Associated Press Writer Bruce Shipkowski, Associated Press Writer – 9 mins ago

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. – A 16-year-old boy was responsible for an intercom announcement ordering black people to leave from a Wal-Mart store in southern New Jersey, angering customers and prompting company leaders to apologize, police said Saturday.

The boy, whose name is not being released because he is a juvenile, was arrested Friday on charges of harassment and bias intimidation in the incident at Walmart's Washington Township store. Authorities said he was released to the custody of his parents; they did not know whether he had a lawyer.

"This was an extremely disturbing event on many levels," Gloucester County Prosecutor Sean Dalton said at a news conference. "Any statements like these that can cause harm or grave concern must be addressed as quickly we possibly can."

A male voice came over the Walmart public-address system Sunday evening and calmly announced: "Attention, Walmart customers: All black people, leave the store now."

Authorities would not say whether the announcement was planned or made impulsively. Police said they were also investigating a teenage boy who accompanied the suspect to the store, but had not charged the other boy.

Although a manager quickly apologized for the remark over the intercom, many customers expressed their anger to store management.

Officials for Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc., said the announcement was "unacceptable." Spokesman David Tovar said the company planned to release a statement later Saturday, after the news conference.

The company said it has already updated the store's intercom system to prevent a similar incident from happening again.

It was the latest in a series of problems the retailer has had in its dealings with minorities and women.

There have been several past instances of black customers claiming they were treated unfairly at Walmart stores, and the company faced lawsuits alleging that women were passed over in favor of men for pay raises and promotions.

In February 2009, the retailer paid $17.5 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging racial discrimination in its hiring of truck drivers.

And the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued the company in May 2009, claiming some Hispanic employees at a Sam's Club subsidiary in California were subjected to a hostile work environment. That suit alleges managers failed to stop repeated verbal harassment, including the use of derogatory words, against employees of Mexican descent.

However, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has said the company has worked hard in recent years to show it cares about diversity.

**GearsMcGilf** · 03-20-2010, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by sprayherup

Werd!! They're just fucking lazy. And being "helped" by one of them is the absolute worst!

Get ready. It's kinda hard to laugh at that shit, knowing that's our healthcare system's gonna be like in a few years. When I was in Chiner, that's exactlly what a trip to the hospital was like. Get in one line to check in, stand in another to tell the clerk your symptoms, take your ticket, then stand in another like to pay a small fee, then wait a few hours to see a doc who spends about 2 min with you. It was just like the fucking DMV. But, the fees and meds were dirt cheap. You certainly got what you paid for.

Anywho, the niggers need to chill the fuck out and lighten up. The got their fucking apology, their 40 acres and a friggin' mule. WTF else do they think they deserve?

**Curt James** · 03-20-2010, 04:51 PM

I'm inclined to believe that all people are assholes.

Uh, no offense.

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