Family Dollar Face Protest

African-Americans leaders are calling for action against a white Family Dollar Store manager in South Fort Worth who beat an African-American woman after she was allegedly caught shoplifting.
It is the second such incident involving the white manager (whose name has not been released by the Family Dollar Company) for allegedly beating an African-American woman at the same South Freeway location near Interstate 35 and Berry Street.
“We are outraged at the treatment of this woman and want the community to come together and join in a protest against the store until this man is removed,” said Oscar Sutphen, chairman of the Tarrant County L.O.C. and ACORN said a protest in front of the store last week. “His actions were way out of bounds. We will no longer allow our African-American women shopping there to be disrespected and mistreated like that.”
The citizens group is also calling on African-American councilman Donovan Wheatfall and Ralph McCloud and Fort Worth Mayor Sidney Moncrief investigate the biases some businesses use when dealing with and treating African-American and Hispanic shoppers in poorer neighborhoods and areas of the city.
A community petition is also being circulated asking local pastors to demand answers from Family Dollar corporate officials about its shoplifter apprehension and search procedures and needed management changes at the store.
“These are not the days of slavery,” said Jim Blackwell, whose sign, protesting and loud words “Don’t Shop Here” turned away many shoppers. “We are tired of spending our hard earned money with these businesses that come into our neighborhoods and then mistreat us and disrespect us. It stops right here and right now.”
In the latest incident, more that 15 African-Americans reportedly stood stunned witnessing the brutal force used against the woman and the extensive exposure and search of the woman’s privacy areas in open public by the male store manager.
According to eyewitness reports, the manager stopped the young woman in the store Oct. 28 after she allegedly set off an alarm while leaving the store.
The store manager confronted her and asked her to return to the counter and remove any item. The woman allegedly cooperated and returned the items, but was questioned by the manager. When she told the manager she had no other items, she attempted to leave the store. The manager allegedly blocked the door, grabbed the woman and placed her in a chokehold. As the woman struggled to breath, the manager threw her down and struck her several times in the stomach, even though the woman never struck him. He continued beating her and according to witnesses dragged her out of the store and slammed her against the window of the store. He continued to strike her in the stomach and slammed her against the window a second time.
Witnesses, including Sutphen and several other community leaders were in the shopping center and appealed to the manager not to continue hurting the woman.
“He was really hitting her, so I walked over and told him not to hit her anymore,” Sutphen said. “I don’t mind her being taken to jail, but this is not a plantation and I refuse to allow a black women to be beaten like a slave.”
Each reported that the manager was at least six inches taller than the woman and outweighed her by more than 150 pounds.
The battered woman was dazed, bleeding and barely able to respond to the manager. After the struggle, Sutphen and others saw the manager search the woman by putting his hands in her bra and inside her pants.
The manager did not stop until approached by Sutphen and others who yelled at him to stop abusing the woman.
When police arrived, crowds attempted to intervene and tell police about the incident, but were turned back with sirens and told to disperse. Many refused and demanded the woman receive some medical attention for her injuries.
“We are very upset because he did not have to beat her into shock or put his hands in private places in front of people,” said Joan Crownover, president of the Southside Urban Development. “He treated this young lady as if she had no rights and just like she was a dog.”
Leaders were quick not to endorse the alleged shoplifting actions leading up to the beating, but condemned the behavior and racist attitude of the manager.
“We are asking that all African-Americans do not shop in this store and call the corporate office to let them know we will not shop there until this man is out of our district,” Crownover said. ‘He has done this before and if he is not stopped now, he will do it again.’
A Family Dollar spokeswoman released a statement about the allegations against the manager and promised an investigation. “We are aware of the incident,” said Family Dollar company spokeswoman Florence Stanley. “We have contacted store operations and ordered an investigation into the matter.”
Rev. Nehemiah Davis, president of the Fort Worth chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said the news of the beating is troubling contending the woman should have been processed using more civil procedures and turned over to police.
“We don’t condone shoplifting,” he said. “However, no one deserves to be mishandled or treated brutally or have their rights violated by store officials or the police.”
Davis said the matter needs further investigation, but is waiting for more information and a request from the woman or the family before getting involved.
Family Dollar Stores Inc. is one of the fastest growing discount store chains in the United States. During the last 10 years, 1,744 new stores have been added to the chain, with many stores located near poor African-American communities and other minority communities.
One man turned away by the protests said he plans to monitor the situation and will refuse to spend money in any store in Fort Worth that is found disrespecting African-American spending power.
“This tells us that we need our own stores and businesses,” said J.R. Sommers. “It’s time for richer Blacks to step up and help bring business to our community so we can have good places to shop.”