Attention Wal-Mart Customers: 16-Year-Old Arrested for Racist Announcement

By: Kealan Oliver
Topics: Daily Blotter

Wal-Mart (CBS)

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS/AP) The boy who allegedly made the announcement, "Attention, Walmart customers: All black people leave the store now," was arrested Friday and released to his parents. He is charged with harassment and bias intimidation.

The 16-year-old boy, whose name is not being released because of his age, allegedly picked up one of the courtesy phones at a Wal-Mart in Washington Township, New Jersey, on March 14, and made the racist announcement that caused quite a bit of outrage in the store.

Following the announcement, a manager quickly went on the intercom system and apologized for the remark. However, customers expressed their anger to the store management.

Wal-Mart spokesman David Tovar said "We have updated our intercom system at this store to prevent this from happening again. We again apologize to all of our customers and associates who had to listen to something so offensive."

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"Attention Wal-Mart Customers: All Black People Leave the Store Now"

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by txrattler93 August 18, 2010 5:26 PM EDT: Since obviously some of u haven't done your home work the KKK was in "the beginning" a form of civilian policing in the south. the attacks on people was not centered on the black population as a whole but on all people "black, white or other" that would move into a small town and threaten what the local white land owners considered the moral wellbeing of the community. This would include prostitutes, gamblers and other "questionable elements". Often times the men who formed the KKK were hypocritical.

I can understand the reasons behind the original sentiments. But i do not agree with there actions. The KKK now a days is a evil institution.

And furthermore most black people are just as Racist as most whites.; Reply to this comment


by Travisford20 May 2, 2010 11:20 PM EDT: I'm sorry but I think racism should be illegal here in USA.

And don't give me that bullsh*t about Freedom of Speech. Death threats contains Freedom of Speech aswell.; Reply to this comment


by Saintlouisfan72 May 2, 2010 10:57 PM EDT: Oh great, another racist white boy living in the 60s wishing that Black Americans such as myself shouldn't exists. GET OVER IT! Because we're not going anywhere, in fact in the near future America will be owned by the black society.

You know what pisses me off is that everytime when a white person talks negative about black people, next thing it's on the news, and
vice versa the media doesn't do anything.

Listen up, white people. This goes to all white Americans. If you hate blacks so much, you all need to stop ******** and take your honkey ***** back to Europe.; Reply to this comment


by coinman9388 March 26, 2010 5:08 PM EDT: This kid doesn't need to be arrested. What he needs is a good ass whopping.; Reply to this comment


by lovedavdubs March 25, 2010 7:38 AM EDT: Obviously Psychosoc77 up there is not looking at this situation through the eyes of a black and or ethnic minority. I'm a 35 year old an interracial man who grew up in nearby Trenton. Being half black myself, I can tell you first hand that this type of ridiculousness went on all the time. Washington and Hamilton townships were where chock full of racist middle class white families that loved to let you know you were in the wrong neighborhood. When I was a teen it was practically a challenge to simply drive past a Hamilton/Washington township cop after night fall without getting profiled,pulled over and searched. I can't count how many times I'd been chased and called names by privileged suburban white football jocks. Nice to see things have changed over the years lol! I'd like to see this kid try and get cute in a department store deep in Trenton. But in the end free speech is free speech. Only thing is, the consequences of your actions can sometimes be a real *****. It would have been nice to read that a black kid of equal age got to him before the cops did and threw him a healthy beating. Not that violence is the answer...just saying.; Reply to this comment


by Tonetare March 23, 2010 11:18 PM EDT: The countless whites who defend anti-black verbal abuse with "Freedom of Speech" out of ignorance. Freedom of Speech refers to the government being prohibited from throwing people in jail for any type of verbalization. Freedom of Speech does NOT mean people are allowed to say whatever they want, however offensive, without receiving negative consequences. This is why a person can be fired from their job if they insult their boss. This is why Serena Williams can receive anti-black slurring all over the Internet from the white community for cursing at a line official for a bad call during a tennis game.; Reply to this comment


by subterranium March 22, 2010 11:21 PM EDT: That kid has to learn that the sentiment behind his little prank is not acceptable. When I was his age I was suffering from a few bigoted notions of my own due to the cultural influences of where I grew up, but I was lucky enough to also have a true friend at the time who was able to show me just how wrong-headed and shameful that crap really is. Stop making excuses for him.; Reply to this comment


by katiendr March 22, 2010 10:50 PM EDT: If this kid had said "all arabs, all gays, all jews, all fat people, or all whites" it would be just as wrong as it is to say "all black people".

While the intimidations charges are a bit much, the point needs to be made that racism, no matter what form it takes won't be tolerated. Free speech doesn't include statements that intimidate or frighten. That is terroristic threatening and technically he could have been charged with that. The statement could be taken as a threat against blacks, insinuating that the black people were going to come to harm if they didn't leave.

If you think his joke deserves a laugh and that's all, remember that the holocaust started with cartoons of Jews with big noses. It all starts with a joke, and then it ends up with a death.
This is how the KKK, Nazi's, Black Panthers and every other racist group want you to view their statements. "It's a joke people, get over it."; Reply to this comment

by fwhiteny24 March 22, 2010 6:37 PM EDT

arrested!?? *** u gotta be kididng me how do you get arrested for that, thats ridiculous its a 16 yr old goofin off being a 16 yr old its no harmless then making a prank phone call which everybodys done as kids at least once and why is this even news its the stupidest thing i ever read .. arrested for harrasment and bias intimidation whered they dig those terms up from its complete BS if you ask me and i hope he gets a good lawyer because im sure theyd have a field day with this case and the thing that really gets me is walmart saying they updated there intercom to prevent this hahaha suure what they do program it to bleep out racist and curse words .. i can bet you any amount of money the intercom system is working exactly the same way it did when that 16 yr old went on it .. Walmart you are so lame !

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by tleusin March 24, 2010 12:14 PM EDT: wish I could take that bet..intercom changes made 3/21. and freedom of speech does not include fighting words or instances that may insight violence or panic such as yelling fire in a theater.


by minbari100 March 22, 2010 3:17 PM EDT: I have to agree. no it is not ok to make those kinds of remarks. but what laws have really been broken here? this is a freedom of speech issue plain and simple. if he dosen't like black people, or just did it as a joke, that is his right. Wal-mart can kick him out, ban him, whatever. but people make WAY too big a deal about stuff like this. if he said "attention white people, you have to leave" would this even make it to the news?; Reply to this comment