SHOPPING WHILE BLACK: US Supremes reject local racism claim

COLUMBIA, 11/19/09 (Beat Bytes) --  The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a civil rights claim from thirteen African-American shoppers who alleged that Dillard's Department store in the Columbia Mall was using racially motivated store surveillance procedures.

 

Despite testimony from former Dillard's employees that store managers were "especially aggressive" in watching black customers -- and gave white shoplifters preferential treatment over black shoplifters -- the nine-justice panel decided not to intervene.   One former employee testified that when African-Americans entered, the security code "44" was announced over the store intercom.

 

Federal law required the shoppers to prove the retailer "actively and intentionally obstructed his or her efforts, making any purchase impossible," a claim dismissed by two lower courts.  A federal appeals court in St. Louis concluded that even racially-motivated surveillance was not illegal if store managers did not refuse to sell their products.

 

Dillard's is a Little Rock, Arkansas-based chain with 330 stores in 29 states. 

 

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http://archive.showmenews.com/2007/jul/20070724busi003.asp