WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, New Jersey - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. officials are reviewing security tapes to try to determine who used a southern New Jersey store's public-address system to tell "all black people" to leave.

On Sunday evening at the Washington Township store, a male voice calmly announced: "Attention Wal-Mart customers: All black people leave the store now."

Witnesses told the Courier-Post newspaper that customers and store employees looked stunned. Management later apologized.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35910010/

Good grief. Who do they think they are - Denny's??? :rolleyes:

This is not official Wal-Mart policy, Monika. It was probably just one hateful
employee. You should not accuse an entire discount store chain of systematic
racism without any real proof.


I'm sure Monika is aware that it isn't Wal-Mart's policy and her comment about Denny's doesn't mean she's accusing Wal-Mart of racism. You really shouldn't make such claims without some strong evidence to back it up.

I'm sure Monika is aware that it isn't Wal-Mart's policy and her comment about Denny's doesn't mean she's accusing Wal-Mart of racism. You really shouldn't make such claims without some strong evidence to back it up.
Thank you, Charles! Geez, it was only a joke. :eek:

Thank you, Charles! Geez, it was only a joke. :eek:

I thought it was funny.

This was probably the work of one idiot.


Also Walmart sucks ass. I wouldnt shop there to save my mother's life.
They are nothing but a perfect example of corporate greed. :mad:

Well, hopefully a CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED idiot.

This is not official Wal-Mart policy, Monika. It was probably just one hateful
employee. You should not accuse an entire discount store chain of systematic
racism without any real proof.
Lee, you've got to lighten up and stop calling people out. Monika, or anyone for that matter, has the right to make a joke without getting a lecture.

Well the way she said it, Janice, it came out like it was a clear blanket
accusation of racism against a company who appears to be a professional
and above board company.


Here's more from that professional and above the board company you like to heap praise on. I love the line highlighted in red, Yeah right. :rolleyes:

A Walmart employee with sinus cancer and an inoperable brain tumor who was fired for using medical marijuana will not be rehired, even though the company says it is "sympathetic" to his condition.


Link (http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/03/17/wal-mart-sympathetic-man-fired-medical-marijuana-wont-rehire/)

A Walmart employee with sinus cancer and an inoperable brain tumor who was fired for using medical marijuana will not be rehired, even though the company says it is "sympathetic" to his condition.

Joseph Casias, 29, was fired in November from a Walmart store in Battle Creek, Mich., after marijuana was detected in a routine drug screening that he underwent after he sprained his knee at work.

Casias, who was the store's 2008 associate of the year, said he legally used marijuana to reduce pain associated with his disease and was never under the influence while at work.

"I gave them everything," Casias told Wzzm13.com. "110 percent every day. Anything they asked me to do, I did. More than they asked me to do. Twelve to 14 hours a day."

Casias, who has been collecting unemployment since his termination, reportedly received a notification this week that Wal-Mart was challenging his eligibility for benefits. But Wal-Mart officials will no longer object to Casias receiving those benefits, company spokesman Greg Rossiter told FoxNews.com.


"This is just an unfortunate situation all around," Rossiter said. "We're sympathetic to Mr. Casias' condition, but like other companies, we have to consider the overall safety of our customers and associates, including Mr. Casias, when making a difficult decision like this."

Asked if Wal-Mart officials were considered offering Casias his job back, Rossiter replied: "No, we're not."

The Marijuana Policy Project, a Washington-based marijuana advocacy organization, has called for a nationwide boycott of all Walmart stores to protest Casias' termination.

"MPP is asking shoppers to demand that Wal-Mart abandon its discriminatory policy of firing employees who are legal medical marijuana patients under state law," an MPP blog posting read. "We need to send a strong message to Wal-Mart and other businesses in medical marijuana states that it is not acceptable to fire sick people for trying to get better by following their doctor’s recommendation and obeying state law. Marijuana is a legitimate medicine, supported by science and protected by law in 14 states, including Michigan."

Dan Korobkin, a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union's Michigan branch, said Wal-Mart's action against Casias is unlawful and "shameful."

"It's illegal to fire somebody for being a medical marijuana patient, and it's also shameful to punish somebody for treating their medical condition in a legal way," Korobkin told FoxNews.com. "As far as I know, Wal-Mart itself sells a lot of over-the-counter drugs and prescription medications."

Korobkin said federal authorities have announced they will not enforce federal marijuana laws in states that have legalized its usage for medicinal purposes, including Michigan, and he's "cautiously optimistic" that Wal-Mart officials will reconsider Casias' termination.

"Wal-Mart is a large corporation, but they don't supersede state laws," he said. "When the voters of the state vote to make the use of medical marijuana legal and protected, that is a law that binds even Wal-Mart."

we have to consider the overall safety of our customers associates, including Mr. Casias, when making a difficult decision like this."




Here are a few examples of things more likely to happen to me at Wal-Mart than my safety being compromised by an associate with a little pot in his tinkle.

1. Being trampled to death on black Friday
2. Slipping on a wet floor or any object in the aisle
3. Being hit by an item falling from above
4. Being hit in my car or as a pedestrian in the parking lot etc...

Well the way she said it, Janice, it came out like it was a clear blanket
accusation of racism against a company who appears to be a professional
and above board company. I have shopped at Wal-Marts in Parkersburg
and Ripley, West Virginia and have experienced nothing but professionalism
from the employees I have been in contact with. They do not appear to be the
type of fool that this one idiot at this Wal-Mart in New Jersey apparently is.

I know Monika and other people may not mean to come across as being
harsh or critical, but their sense of humor seems to suggest that sometimes
Stop your whining. If you're going to accuse your fellow members of racism, all I can say to you is to take it elsewhere. It's not welcome at this site. Understand that, Lee. It will not be tolerated. More and more, you're letting things get under your skin, and you're calling people out with your lectures. Stop it. It ends now. Like I said, lighten up.

What happened to this man is indeed unfortunate, and I agree that this
Wal-Mart store should not have taken this action. And the Wal-Mart chain
needs to change this policy if this is indeed national policy. But using this
story to attack me personally is uncalled for, in my opinion.


You were not attacked and I apologize if you felt that you were. The story was only posted as an example of Wal-Mart's stupid policies.

If I was in there I would have been laughing so hard while waiting to be escorted out the door-lol

If I was in there I would have been laughing so hard while waiting to be escorted out the door-lol
:rofl: How about George Jefferson?

Nowhere have I actually accused members on here of being racist
themselves. I have simply said some of the humor and the jokes on
here are questionable. I don't know where you are getting the idea
that I am accusing anyone on here of being racist, but it is certainly
not from my own mouth.


I don't think what Janice is saying has anything to do with you accusing people of being racist. She's referring to the way that you tend to attack people for simply voicing their opinion. It makes people angry and some will purposely avoid threads you post in because of it. It comes off as rude.

I thought it was funny.
Thanks! :lol:

Nowhere have I actually accused members on here of being racist
themselves. I have simply said some of the humor and the jokes on
here are questionable. I don't know where you are getting the idea
that I am accusing anyone on here of being racist, but it is certainly
not from my own mouth.
Right here Lee. This is where you accused Monika of making racist accusations against a company. When a person is accused of making racist statements, it's the same as calling them a racist. That's what racists do, they say racist stuff. Now END this. You've ruined a perfectly good thread. You've become too thin skinned, and I'm not the only person who has noticed it. If you think people here are too critical or harsh, then maybe this isn't the site for you. Everyone is having a good time, and you start in with the lectures, whining and accusing people of attacking you. You PM me, asking me about my moderating decisions. I don't answer to you, and you've probably noticed that I've stopped replying. I'm tired of it. If something bothers you, report it, and a moderator will decide if it has merit. Stop reprimanding members. You're not a moderator.

Well the way she said it, Janice, it came out like it was a clear blanket accusation of racism against a company

Right here Lee. This is where you accused Monika of making racist accusations against a company. When a person is accused of making racist statements, it's the same as calling them a racist. That's what racists do, they say racist stuff. Now END this. You've ruined a perfectly good thread. You've become too thin skinned, and I'm not the only person who has noticed it. If you think people here are too critical or harsh, then maybe this isn't the site for you. Everyone is having a good time, and you start in with the lectures, whining and accusing people of attacking you. You PM me, asking me about my moderating decisions. I don't answer to you, and you've probably noticed that I've stopped replying. I'm tired of it. If something bothers you, report it, and a moderator will decide if it has merit. Stop reprimanding members. You're not a moderator.


:clap props:

:clap props:
:yeahthat

Thanks! :lol:

I did as well. Denny's has a terrible reputation in this regard.

Here are a few examples of things more likely to happen to me at Wal-Mart than my safety being compromised by an associate with a little pot in his tinkle.

1. Being trampled to death on black Friday
2. Slipping on a wet floor or any object in the aisle
3. Being hit by an item falling from above
4. Being hit in my car or as a pedestrian in the parking lot etc...

As the article you posted pointed out, Walmart is indeed quite horrid. That they would treat a loyal employee like that is sickening.

I thought it was funny.

I thought so too, Monika's comment was great! She has a wonderful sense of humor.

Thanks, everybody. I just call 'em like I see 'em. ;)

have they even proven that it was a Walmart employee that was responsible for this? - I mean I walk up and use the PA system in department stores all the time; I've never had anyone ever stop me or do anything about it, although I've never tried that particular "joke" - I prefer to just announce a "bluelight special" in aisle 9, or tell Vern about a massive cleanup in aisle 4.

have they even proven that it was a Walmart employee that was responsible for this? - I mean I walk up and use the PA system in department stores all the time; I've never had anyone ever stop me or do anything about it, although I've never tried that particular "joke" - I prefer to just announce a "bluelight special" in aisle 9, or tell Vern about a massive cleanup in aisle 4.
Now that's funny. "Vern, please pick up. Pick up your HASH BLACKS!!!" :rofl:

http://rookery5.aviary.com/storagev12/3415000/3415019_0981_625x625.jpg (http://aviary.com/artists/cleverfun3000/creations/walmart)

Well, looks like Walmart is no longer racist since it doesn't appear one of their employees did it. Unless they have a 16 year old boy who is a racist.

Boy arrested (http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/03/20/walmart.racial.remark/index.html?hpt=T2)

(CNN) -- Police in New Jersey arrested a teenager in connection with a public-address-system announcement telling "all blacks" to leave a Wal-Mart store, a police spokesman said.

The 16-year-old boy is from Atlantic County, New Jersey, said deputy police chief John Dalesandro of the Washington Township Police Department. The suspect was arrested Friday in Atlantic County on bias intimidation and harassment charges, police said in a statement Saturday. He is in custody of his parents, police said.

Gloucester County prosecutors say that shortly before 5 p.m. on March 14, an unidentified male accessed the public address system at the Turnersville, New Jersey, Wal-Mart Supercenter Store. "All blacks need to leave the store," the voice announced. Store management contacted the Washington Township Police Department, which opened an investigation in conjunction with the county prosecutor's office, Dalesandro said.

Wal-Mart corporate spokesman Lorenzo Lopez said the company is "just as appalled by this as anyone."

He emphasized that Wal-Mart, the world's largest public corporation, is working with law enforcement officials.

"Whoever did this is wrong and acted in an inappropriate manner," Lopez said. "Clearly this is unacceptable."

Law enforcement officials said that Wal-Mart is now acting to limit the public address feature to a smaller number of in-store telephones.

Lopez has confirmed that the New Jersey store is updating its intercom systems and that the company is looking at Sunday's episode to see if there are any lessons for the retailer's other 4,000-plus American stores.

Yep, just heard that on the news. Hope the situation gets resolved soon!!

Well it's good that they have a suspect. Hopefully this will appease the idiots who were thinking about boycotting over this. I'm not a Walmart fan, but it's clear that the store had nothing to do with this, and were just as upset about it as everyone else.

I apologize for my earlier actions on this thread and I should have
realized by the icon on Monika's first post that she was joking. You
are right as well, Janice. I should lighten up and leave the drama off
this website and let other people have their opinions.

Well it's good that they have a suspect. Hopefully this will appease the idiots who were thinking about boycotting over this. I'm not a Walmart fan, but it's clear that the store had nothing to do with this, and were just as upset about it as everyone else.
Yeah, I feel the same way - but that brings up another question. Why weren't the employees watching over the PA system? Otherwise that kid might not have gotten through. :confused:

Yeah, I feel the same way - but that brings up another question. Why weren't the employees watching over the PA system? Otherwise that kid might not have gotten through. :confused:
It this particular Walmart store is like the one in my hometown there will be numerous telephones located throughout the store that have access to the P.A. system. It would be very difficult for the staff to keep an eye on all the phones all the time. I think it was mentioned earlier in the thread that this store is planning to upgrade it's P.A. system so onlt a few select phones in the store will have access to the P.A. This such make it easier to prevent unauthirized usage.

It this particular Walmart store is like the one in my hometown there will be numerous telephones located throughout the store that have access to the P.A. system. It would be very difficult for the staff to keep an eye on all the phones all the time. I think it was mentioned earlier in the thread that this store is planning to upgrade it's P.A. system so onlt a few select phones in the store will have access to the P.A. This such make it easier to prevent unauthirized usage.


True, in a lot of stores, I'm sure all they have to do is pick up a nearby phone to get to the intercom. They probably either just have to hit an intercom button or else they might have to dial a certain code. Either way, it's obvious that this kid knew how to access the intercom system, either from watching someone do it or being told by someone who knows how. And in Wal Mart, it's probably not possible for the employees to keep an eye on the phones every second.

There was a time when the PA system could only be accessed from a couple of points within the stores... from the customer service desk, the checkout area, and the back office. But now, stores have phones in all areas and the phones can access the PA system.

The kid's an idiot.

Good thing I wasn't there - I'd grab the phone out of his hand and announce it's time for all racist a$$holes to leave the store...and then dropkick his arse outta there.

The kid's an idiot.

Good thing I wasn't there - I'd grab the phone out of his hand and announce it's time for all racist a$$holes to leave the store...and then dropkick his arse outta there.
I'd like to see that, actually. :lol:

Me too! :lol:

The kid's an idiot.

Good thing I wasn't there - I'd grab the phone out of his hand and announce it's time for all racist a$$holes to leave the store...and then dropkick his arse outta there.

:lol:

but wal-mart seriously needs to review their security policies. this could've been easily prevented- yet it is unbelievable how he has managed to sneak inside the P.A system.

:lol:

but wal-mart seriously needs to review their security policies. this could've been easily prevented- yet it is unbelievable how he has managed to sneak inside the P.A system.


They're too cheap to give their employees (oops...sorry! "Associates") mic phones to use.

:lol:

but wal-mart seriously needs to review their security policies. this could've been easily prevented- yet it is unbelievable how he has managed to sneak inside the P.A system.
To say the very least!! :nod:

They're too cheap to give their employees (oops...sorry! "Associates") mic phones to use.
Exactly!!