Walgreens accused of racial profiling
Employee thought two black women were shoplifting
They walked in as customers and walked out feeling like criminals.
Two South Florida business women claim to be the latest example of a trend where people feel free to call police anytime they become suspicious of anyone with dark skin.
Crystal Davis and Santanna Neal say they were racially profiled while shopping for items they needed for an upcoming business trip.
Miramar police greeted them outside the Walgreens, at 8100 Miramar Parkway, about 9:20 p.m. on June 13.
Officers brought them back into the store and searched their bags after an employee reported shoplifting suspicions to the manager.
“This situation was probably the most traumatic thing I’ve been through in my life,” Davis said. “Because of everything that’s been going on, just the thought of police approaching you is an uncomfortable situation.”
The women said they heard announcements on the store’s speaker system alerting security.
“It was very scary because I’ve never had any interaction with the police before,” said Neal. “So, it was just scary.”
Their attorney cited recent cases of searches or arrests of innocent African Americans at a Starbucks in Philadelphia, a Target store in Minnesota., a Waffle House in Alabama, and an Airbnb rental home in California, as examples of the racial profiling her clients experienced.
“These accusers are endangering people’s lives on a daily basis,” said Jasmine Rand, at a news conference in Pembroke Pines, Wednesday. “We have to hold these accusers accountable for placing these calls [to police].”