racism: alive and well in america...and wal-mart.

[KG]

Racial profiling feared at Wal-Mart
Store managers delay a black customer for two hours. It took police 19 minutes to figure out he did nothing wrong.
By MARK ALBRIGHT, Times Staff Writer
Published December 2, 2005

TAMPA - GAF Materials Corp. is handing out gift cards from Target as a reward to select employees this holiday season. That's because Wal-Mart, the discount store that held the business for years, last week called sheriff's deputies to apprehend a GAF manager on a bogus bad check rap while he was trying to buy this year's gift card supply.

"I keep going over and over the incident in my mind," said Reginald Pitts, the 34-year-old human resources manager for the roof material manufacturer's Tampa distribution center. "I cannot come up with any possible reason why I was treated like this except that I am black."

Wal-Mart has launched its own internal investigation of the incident, which store officials concede upfront "was handled very poorly."

"We've apologized to Mr. Pitts and are trying to find out exactly what happened so it does not happen again," said Sharon Weber, spokeswoman for the chain, based in Bentonville, Ark. "We do not tolerate racial discrimination or racial profiling at Wal-Mart."

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

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http://www.sptimes.com/2005/12/02/Tampabay/Racial_profiling_fear.shtml

[acmavm]

1. The only reason Wal-Mart cares is because of how much money

the company spends there annually.

<snip>
GAF has been spending about $50,000 a year on gift cards at the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 11110 Causeway Blvd. in Brandon.
<snip>

Otherwise they wouldn't give a damn.

[LostinVA]

2. WTF??? I've worked retail management

And that was almost 10 years ago. You call the bank, you maybe call the company, you maybe photocopy the guy's DL. That's it. This is especially bad because this company has been buying this gift cards for years from THIS store. Oh, and these managers wouldn't do this if the didn;'t have support or even instructions to do so by their District Manager or Corporate...

OMG.

I hope Mr. Pitts sues their America-hating asses. And, they DO hate American... they loathe her citizens, that's for damn sure.

And sue the cops, too. Totally unprofessional, See the black guy? Act like he's a felon. God.

[Nobody]

4. I hope Wal Mart loses their business

And if I were that manager, I'd make sure my boss knew why I'd be selecting a different store to do business with.

[salin]

6. article says the business has now gone to target.

idiot bigots don't realize that racism is NOT good for the bottom line.

[Swamp Rat]

3. Merry fucking christmas... I hate Wal-Mart

:puke:

[salin]

5. when will these idiots learn, racism is not good for business.

Idiots - sad that it is only when the issue comes to light which is so high profile that it garners press attention. Undoubtedly this store is likely to have had many many incidents - note that while the company has appologized folks from this particular store remain silent.

[RepublicanElephant]

7. ever notice how montone wal-mart corporate offices look. n/t!

:thumbsdown:

[Obamarama]

8. I find the deputy's statement more alarming than Wal-Mart's actions

Wal-Mart once again shines as a reprehensible corporate citizen, but what equally chilled me about this report is the statement of one of the deputies.

"We need to talk with you about this forged check that you brought in here," Pitts recalled deputy Bryan Wells saying. Later Wells explained the reason for the firm arm grab: "Well, Wal-Mart called us and reported to us that you committed a felony, and that's the way we approach felons," Pitts recalled.

I thought our justice system presumes one is innocent until proven guilty. Someone needs to send Barney Fife back to the police academy for a refresher course. What scares me is that our law enforcement agencies are probably riddled with Freeper, asshat bubbas like the fine Deputy Adams.

[Thtwudbeme]

9. Oh shit, me too....he sounds creepy as hell

Barney Fife was stupid, and a power tripper....This guy sounds like a stupid power tripper who has the added ugliness of being MEAN and racist.

[RepublicanElephant]

10. just wait til these guys are called to service in dubya's police state. nt

!

[blondeatlast]

11. Exactly--ALLEGED white collar crime merits that reaction?

Pitts has a couple of major publicity-grabbing lawsuits if he wants to pursue them.

As if I needed yet another reason to avoid WM...

[Solomon]

12. Look, sheriff's deputies are on the low end of the totem pole of law

enforcement. The only thing that ranks below them are jail guards.

They are not known for having brains, otherwise they would be policemen. Most sheriff's deputies are people not smart enough to be cops. They watch tv law enforcement shows and fantasize about being important. They are law enforcement wanna be's who can only be trusted to serve subpoenas and transport criminal defendants between the jail and the courthouse.

No disrespect to liberal or DU sheriff's deputies if they exist. I did say "most sheriff's deputies."

[_testify_]

13. The city of Brandon does not have its own Police Dept

They are outside of Tampa's PD jurisdiction, and thus rely on the Hillsborough County Sherrif's Dept for their LE.

I'm not a cop and don't profess to have any extra love for them, but I do know several Hillsborough County deputies, and I wouldn't characterize them as less than a Police Officer.

Deputies here handle a LOT more than prisoner taxi service or serving subpoenas. The carry large, lethal firearms and patrol the entire county as first responders.

Maybe it's different in your state!

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

14. This is criminal behavior by the store manager. Isn't there some sort of

legal charge that could be brought against him? It seems like some kind of harassment or illegally detaining this customer. What about the refusal to return the check?

As a manager, myself, I believe that a company's ethics and business practices are reflected in the behavior and bearing of its front line managers.

It's no surprise that walmart's reflected behavior is morally bankrupt. MKJ