When is enough, enough?
As a community, when do we take a stand against bullies? When do we stand up for ourselves and say “I’ve had enough of this, and I’m going to do something about it?!” This leads me into my story for the day. I was approached by a tearful coworker today, on her birthday no less. She relayed a horrific story of her evening yesterday. She, her sister, and her children went to Hobby Lobby. This is not an abnormal activity for a Thursday night, I was actually planning on heading there myself last night. Still dressed in her business casual attire she went shopping for some odds and ends to begin a craft project. She noticed a man watching her, never thinking he was watching her due to suspicion of shoplifting! She also noticed a rather rude employee in the same isle also keeping tabs on her and her family. I suppose I should mention that her children are always well groomed and well dressed, her daughter maintains honor roll level grades in High School and her son is about 6 years old. Nothing abnormal here folks, keep looking on. OH did I mention they are Latino?
After continuing to shop with some man hovering over her family, he finally approached her. Flashing his badge as a Pueblo Police Officer in plain clothes he stated that they had her on camera putting items in her purse. To her surprise he made her, her sister, her 15 year old daughter, and her 6 year old son empty their pockets! Is this appropriate behavior? Do we now harass families shopping because we saw them “put something in their purse?!” I put things in my pocket all the time. Things that belong to me, my phone, my wallet, my keys…..am I next?! What are our rights as shoppers? Because I can tell you, I would have made a HUGE stink out of the situation, and may have left in cuffs! I have been called many things in my 30 years of life, but one thing I am NOT is a thief! I digress….after being humiliated in front of her family, my coworker went to find the manager of the store, asking questions and getting mixed answers! The final statement was that “they thought they saw her put something in her bag.” Is this now justification for humiliation? Now don’t get me wrong, I DO NOT think its ok to steal! However, I also don’t think its ok to profile people and follow them around the store making them uncomfortable, then later humiliating them and making 6 year olds empty their pockets for a dollar package of beads!!! Did I mention they didn’t find anything in her purse or the pockets of her children?! That should be noted!
So as a community, what do we do?! Where do we go?! I can tell you what I did! I got on the phone, and I got on the keyboard, and I wrote this story! If this EVER happens to me, I would request police assistance, and a uniformed female police officer to come search me! To find what, you might ask…..NOTHING, you will find nothing in my pockets but my dignity and a potential lawsuit and one hell of a complaint! I do NOT believe security guards in stores have the authority to ask you to empty your pockets! So if I am ever asked to empty mine….that security guard is going to get a big ol “fuck you!” out of me!
Like many artsy crafty sorts in our community, we are unfortunately restricted to very few sources for our supplies, with Hobby Lobby having been resident here "forever", and long the sole outlet. I faithfully use my coupon every Saturday evening (when it is possible to avail oneself of both the previous and the coming week's sale prices - CHEAPSKATE ALERT! Also, maybe reduce their income levels?), as well as frequently printing out additional coupons for the use of myself or friends for additional arty necessaries.
ReplyDeleteIt is not enough that we also are subjected to the unending stream of Christian muzak during our shopping, as well as limited in our access to some products (by virtue of HLs increased self-branded outsourced items to the exclusion of others, as well as outright censorship of the posters, art and books they carry).
This innocent family (of ALL people!) was hounded doing what families are so encouraged by that tradition HL so overwhemingly (I mean that literally) professes: a family night of togetherness, bonding and fun. I am now (I guess) too old to garner that kind of attention, but I remember it well from my younger days, and I think it occasionally is directed my way only to be redirected by virtue of my frequent and familiar presence with most of their local staff. I have the time and tendency to linger for long hours at HL, often checking a variety of things out, and returning several times before I make my final selection on which to spend my limited funds, as well as chatting with other like-minded shoppers.
No matter, whatever their suspicions of anyone may be, valid or not, profiled or not (and I have no doubt they were profiled: there are few if any Latino employees of this store, and no female management, all of whom are balding white guys), having been the buyer and sometime floor manager for another art supply outlet (in Colorado Springs, and not HL), I think I can say with authority that no store or entity has the right or privilege to demand that anyone be exposed to humiliation in the aisles, in public view, of their store.
I am so angry on behalf of this little family unit, and for others who have no doubt been treated in this way (if HL did this to them, likely this is repeat behavior), that I plan to switch my loyalty to JoAnne's (whose supplies are unfortunately more meager ... rats!), and to the online and out of town suppliers that I trust. I also intend to print out a copy of this post, and submit it to our local HL folks, possibly with copies of my HL receipts for the past few months (to demonstrate their loss), as well as to their national management.
At least Joanne's is open on Sunday, and I can purchase from Jerry's 24/7!!! B'bye, Hobby Lobby! - michele sabata keplinger, ex-HL addict
Thank you Michelle! It sucks because Hobby Lobby is one of the only stores in Pueblo that sells the art supplies that i NEED! I suppose ill start going to Springs to another store to get my art supplies
Delete