"All Blacks Leave:" Copycat Racism Probed at Another NJ Store
Teen arrested after racist announcement at NJ supermarket
By JEREMY BOXERBAUM
Updated 1:59 PM EDT, Tue, Apr 13, 2010
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Copycat-Racism-90729924.html
For the second time in less than a month, a New Jersey teenager has been arrested for allegedly making a racist announcement over a store's public address system.
The latest incident happened over the weekend at the Whole Foods Market on River Road in Edgewater, according to the Bergen Record.
A 14-year-old girl reportedly grabbed the microphone at the store's courtesy desk and said, "All blacks leave the store."
A store employee immediately called the police, according to the Record, and the girl and a 14-year-old boy who was with her were taken into custody moments later.
The girl is reportedly charged with bias intimidation and harassment.
There's no word of any charges against the boy. Their names have not been released because they're juveniles.
"Whole Foods Market has a zero-tolerance policy regarding all matters of prejudice and continues to work with local law enforcement on this issue," said Whole Foods spokesman Michael Sinatra, in an interview with the Record.
Just last month, a 16-year-old boy was arrested after a similar incident at a Wal-Mart in Turnersville, New Jersey. In that case, the boy allegedly went on the store's intercom and announced, "Attention Wal-Mart customers: All black people, leave the store now."
He is also charged with bias intimidation and harassment. Police are reportedly treating the Whole Foods incident as a "copycat situation."
Edgewater Police Detective Lt. William Skidmore told the Record the girl and her friend have been released to their parents.
He also said there was no indication the teens were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Teen arrested after racist announcement at NJ supermarket
By JEREMY BOXERBAUM
Updated 1:59 PM EDT, Tue, Apr 13, 2010
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Copycat-Racism-90729924.html
For the second time in less than a month, a New Jersey teenager has been arrested for allegedly making a racist announcement over a store's public address system.
The latest incident happened over the weekend at the Whole Foods Market on River Road in Edgewater, according to the Bergen Record.
A 14-year-old girl reportedly grabbed the microphone at the store's courtesy desk and said, "All blacks leave the store."
A store employee immediately called the police, according to the Record, and the girl and a 14-year-old boy who was with her were taken into custody moments later.
The girl is reportedly charged with bias intimidation and harassment.
There's no word of any charges against the boy. Their names have not been released because they're juveniles.
"Whole Foods Market has a zero-tolerance policy regarding all matters of prejudice and continues to work with local law enforcement on this issue," said Whole Foods spokesman Michael Sinatra, in an interview with the Record.
Just last month, a 16-year-old boy was arrested after a similar incident at a Wal-Mart in Turnersville, New Jersey. In that case, the boy allegedly went on the store's intercom and announced, "Attention Wal-Mart customers: All black people, leave the store now."
He is also charged with bias intimidation and harassment. Police are reportedly treating the Whole Foods incident as a "copycat situation."
Edgewater Police Detective Lt. William Skidmore told the Record the girl and her friend have been released to their parents.
He also said there was no indication the teens were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
