A Black couple claims they were racially profiled last week at a Bed, Bath & Beyond store in Ohio.
The two new homeowners were taking advantage of a going-out-of-business sale at a Toledo-area branch of the bankrupt chain when police were called on them for considering purchasing “too many high ticketed items.”
Lamar Richards, a graduate student, and his partner were out shopping at a branch of the store in Sylvania Township, Ohio, when they noticed police had been called to the store after they began shopping. The couple later confirmed the cops were called because two Black people were suspected as potential shoplifters.
Two videos that captured the incident from two different angles were posted on Twitter on the morning of Friday, June 16.
In it, Richards and his partner were talking to an employee from the store, asking why law enforcement was called on them. The woman with a coral shirt is seen in the footage responding to what Richards considers harassment.
“I would like to know why police were called — with three Black people — thinking we were shoplifting. I paid $600 for my things, so obviously, I didn’t shoplift,” he states.
The man notes that while he paid $600, the large items that were over $200 were held at the counter before he and his partner checked out. He also noted that it was a 60 percent off sale and that none of the items were full price.
The massive sale is a result of the company declaring bankruptcy and closing down all of its stores by the end of June.
Still the workers at this branch were guarding the retail from potential shoplifters like hawks.
The lady continues to repeat nonchalantly the officers were called because the two had expensive items in their possession, making the two a risk to try to steal them from the store. She stated when customers are looking to buy “big purchase” items, the store “usually”…
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