Walmart Store Orders Black People To Leave

[swag]

Source: Associated Press

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."


Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-store-announcement-orders-black-people-to-leave-2010-3?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Ian David]

1. 2600 Magazine has had articles on the vulnerabilities of overhead paging systems at big-box stores

IIRC, they once published the codes you need (or needed) to do an overhead page at any Target store nationwide.

It's possible that this was done by a patron, disgruntled ex-employee or rogue current employee of the wal-mart.

But with wal-mart, you never really know.

[hex29a]

3. I hope it doesn't come to the point where Intel gets blamed for internet slander.

sheesh

[BlueJazz]

2. Hate to say this.. but this incident was not walmarts fault. They do a lot of shitty...

...stuff...but this is not one of them.

[The Wielding Truth]

7. It won't be, if the person responsible is reprimanded, rules are

set to prevent this from happening again,and a huge apology is made publicly.

[tularetom]

4. I can't tell you how many times I've heard Mike Hunt paged...

Apparently it isn't very hard for some smartass kid to get ahold of the PA microphone in stores.

Mall Wart is a chancre on the genitals of America but I don't think this one is their fault.

[-..__...]

5. There more this non-story gets sensationalized...

the more incentive it gives pranksters, miscreants and rabble rousers to pull other stunts like this.

[madmom]

6. Sounds like someone who doesn't like walmart wanting to cause trouble.

[rhett o rick]

8. That's a very misleading subject line. Someone using the stores pa system

made the order. I am sure that the "Walmart Store" didnt order all black people to leave.

[Gman2]

9. I once worked security for Fedmart. A friend was slated to go on vacation.

He was not allowed to stay home. Per parent. They changed their minds, and said that if he took it, he was fired. So, he go ton the public address and said, Jackie Paterson sucks weenies. They blamed me. Cuz I could roam. I told them I knew who did it, and I would ask if I could divulge. I did, and she attacked him physically. He was forced to give up things, to get out alive.

[endless october]

10. probably some asshole picked up a phone and did it.

however, any person that values their job should leave Walmart. they are the king of the outsourcers.

[mwrguy]

11. The store did it?

Or some jerk on one of the 87 phones?

[TheCowsCameHome]

12. That subject line needs a little tune-up.

Some crank gets ahold of a mike and thinks he's being funny. That's not Wal-Mart doing the talking.

[swag]

13. I posted it in LBN with the headline, per regs there, and a mod moved it here

[Zomby Woof]

14. And hey, south-bashers!

It happened in New Jersey. Whaddya know?

[slackmaster]

15. It was just a stupid prank by a lone assclown

It wasn't a "Walmart store announcement". Nothing to see here.

[Lex87]

16. I hope nobody took this seriously..

That would be the sad part.. If someone did this in a store I was in I'd have to assume it was a mentally disturbed prank. :p

[rcrush]

17. The more I read this story the more I learn about how to prank Walmarts paging system!

Thanks DU!