Arrested For Being Black At Barney's, NYC

[cgymike]

Arrests without a resulting charge are not uncommon but the cops really could have used better judgement. They will get some negative publicity over this but inconsequential in a large city like that. The store will get some too. But how do you prove it was race. I guess set up a similar situation with a white guy and see what happens.

But if showed ID and was of legal age to have a card and the account had sufficient credit/funds (was it debit/credit...) there are no grounds. He could probably sue the cop personally for illegal arrest. But that's going to cost him more than the belt.

That he was arrested for being black is mere speculation.

 

[Harke the Boeotarch]

With a first name like that, he should be happy that the security guard didn't shoot him...

 

[Kulindahr]

hopefully he'll walk away with enough money from the NYPD to buy at least a matching shoe, if not a complete pair.

I wonder if Barneys is actually liable if this was a case of a single clerk taking it upon himself to call the police.

Yes. If the clerk is acting as an official representative of the store -- which he is, in calling the police -- the store is responsible.

 

[Kulindahr]

Hopefully he'll win a lifetime supply of belts from Barney's, along with clothing to go with them.

 

[Redsox]

With a first name like that, he should be happy that the security guard didn't shoot him...

As serious as this story is, I couldn't help but think the same thing. Trayon? Where do they get these names from?

 

[JPGhost]

Well..that's ok. At least we know that in this story, the ugly color isn't black.
Keep calm and buying on..

- - - Updated - - -

What's next? Beyoncé stopped at airport immigration because she resemblance someone's maid?

 

[braex27]

The entire event is just such a sad reflection of current attitudes. I sort of expect that kind of attitude in a small backwater town somewhere but NYC really should know better.

I think it's right that he sued.

I hope he wins.

Both Barney's and the NYPD need to issue a public apology and the people involved should be sent to counselling.

 

[medic1]

OP,thanks for posting the other article,i am showing the thread to work-mates later today.

 

[lambdaboy]

The United States is the most bigoted country of the so called free world. I am whiter than white, and will never live there again. If you think I am wrong just look at comments on the CBS news website for example when it has to do with Obama. Read the comments and compare them to ones against or for Bush. They were political these are down right racist. Yahoo news too check it out. If he wanted to spend twice as much on a belt it is his business. He should sue Barneys and The Police, he will win and then can go to Armani.

 

[MakeDigitalLove]

The United States is the most bigoted country of the so called free world. I am whiter than white, and will never live there again.

I am sure racism doesn't exist where you live and since you don't live here you're better for it.

 

[Kabluey]

Makes it easier to know where not to go shopping in NY

 

[kallipolis]

Disrespectful attitudes hit a lot of us in high-end retailers. It is all the worse that it happened to him due to race, but it is another variant of the great divide of wealth in our contemporary world. He should sue their socks off.

Here lies another tragedy that the sales assistant (assuming he started the ball rolling) and the two under cover police officers receive salaries that place them in a similar social economic strata to the victim's.

 

[blackbeltninja]

The lady in Barneys was really nice to me when I was on my tour, all flirty and everything because of my "British" accent. Apparently I sound English when I speak slowly, and not like a saffer at all (a blessing, IMO).

Oh no, wait - my mistake; that was at Saks.

On topic - this is a horrendous story. Those cops should be fired.

-d-

 

[justright25]

Could it be that these two were suspected for how they were dressed and not for their race? Everybody has made this a race issue but I cannot believe most of you would be inclined to trust anyone dressed like these two especially not inside a high end retailer.
Furthermore, the racism is not one sided. When people make comments such as, "There are no alternatives to buying from racist pigs in NY," it displays an ingrained form of racism. The pot calling the kettle black.

 

[gsdx]

Could it be that these two were suspected for how they were dressed and not for their race?

So, if this guy walked into the store dressed like this and the clerk didn't recognise him, he would be refused service and arrested as well?

 

[darden]

So, if this guy walked into the store dressed like this and the clerk didn't recognise him, he would be refused service and arrested as well?

if he was a kid off the street and not a multimillionaire celebrity... yeah, wouldn't surprise me if the clerks made him jump through ID check hoops and raised a red flag. (no one involved was actually refused service, though)

stores like this tend to be super judge-y based on how rich you look (or if you look like some random tourist in off the street from a motel)

 

[Harke the Boeotarch]

Careful. Your ignorance is showing.

--

Are you sure it isn't yours?

Mine doesn't have a curly tail or say "oink".

 

[MoufOfKhaos]

No, we're sure it's yours Harke, you always have to slide some racist bullshit into every post nowadays.

Find a new hobby, it's getting really sad.

As serious as this story is, I couldn't help but think the same thing. Trayon? Where do they get these names from?

Because unique names (celebrity unique names like Pilot Inspektor discluded) are wrong and therefore you should be judged because of them, amirite?

*ahem*

As for the argument on how he was dressed - I'm sure if that was the main issue, the kid would have been kicked out of the store, rather than them going through all the hoops to have them arrested. A dress code violation, I can almost see(I mean, people are getting less and less enthused about seeing saggers in their establishments - even I've had to tell a guy at my former job to pull his pants up because he was just ADVERTISING dick)... but it sure as fuck doesn't warrant the police.

 

[darden]

As for the argument on how he was dressed - I'm sure if that was the main issue, the kid would have been kicked out of the store, rather than them going through all the hoops to have them arrested. A dress code violation, I can almost see(I mean, people are getting less and less enthused about seeing saggers in their establishments - even I've had to tell a guy at my former job to pull his pants up because he was just ADVERTISING dick)... but it sure as fuck doesn't warrant the police.

they can't be that obvious about it and it's not a dress code "violation" -- but walk into most high-end stores wearing a nice suit or even business casual versus street clothes and it's like night and day with how you're treated by the sales people. (especially in a place like Manhattan)

 

[Kulindahr]

Did anyone pick up on the fact that Barneys denies the cops were called?