Teen Could Face Year In Juvenile Hall For Racial Remark

Washington Township Police chief Rafael Muniz, Gloucester County prosecutor Sean Dalton (AP)

Yesterday, NJ authorities announced that a 16-year-old boy was arrested for saying on a Wal-Mart store's P.A. system, "Attention, Wal-Mart customers: All black people, leave the store now." Gloucester County Prosecutor Sean Dalton said in a news conference, "This was an extremely disturbing event on many levels. Any statements like these that can cause harm or grave concern must be addressed as quickly we possibly can."

The incident occurred at the Washington Township, NJ Wal-Mart last Sunday. The town's police chief, Rafael Muñiz, said that surveillance cameras didn't show who made the remark, but, the NY Times reports, "images showed three people — the suspect, a young man and a woman — standing near the phone just before the announcement, and rushing from the store just after it." The police also looked online, examining at sites like Facebook and Youtube, and eventually found some postings with "kids bragging" about it. Muniz said the department also received tips, "We got lucky."

The teen, who was released to the custody of his parents, faces harassment and bias intimidation charges. He will be tried in juvenile court and could face up to a year in juvenile hall if convicted. A Wal-Mart spokesman said, "We're pleased this matter is resolved. We have updated our intercom system at this store to prevent this from happening again. We again apologize to all of our customers and associates who had to listen to something so offensive." However, the head of the Gloucester County NAACP chapter said that there are allegations that similar remarks have been heard (though not reported to the police) at the same store, "We are concerned about that, and we're looking into these incidents. We want to work with the community to make sure these types of incidents don't happen."

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By Jen Chung in News on March 21, 2010 12:35 PM

Comments [rss]

Billiamsburg

black civil rights 'issues' like this are the people who don't know when to leave a party. it's like yes, we all thought you were cool and totally right for a long time, but then it just kept going and going and now you're only degrading that goodwill you worked on building.

Mordicai

Yeah, that should really help. What the hell. Give the kid a mountain of community service in Flatbush. Done.

NannyState

I hear he already got a job: getting rid of blacks three townships over...

hotstepper

the kid is an idiot and he pulled a stupid prank. make him clean trash on the highway for a week.

to the NAACP: let my people go.

Guest

"...examining at sites like Facebook and Youtube"

uhm, normal people call that stalking. and they don't get paid doing that either.

Spirit of 76

Nope. Normal people call that "gathering evidence." It's what police are supposed to do.

Guest

can't take a joke today, huh?

Gotham Extremist

Still they don't say if he's white or black.

aspiringrapper

This kid is facing juvy & trash like the Black Israelites can legally spew racist remarks out through a megaphone? Pathetic double standard.

Stewart

There's no doubt this kid is a jerk and his parents should be ashamed. Some punishment is appropriate. However, is this truly harassment or intimidation? Where is the line between free speech and a crime? The next time a crazy non- white person gets on the subway muttering about the man and white people, should he/she be arrested? Come on.

CR

I think the use of the store's PA system is putting this one over the top.

Professor_X

Isn't it enough punishment that the CIA puts microchips in their brains?

henryhamilton

Ridiculous grandstanding. The kid will never get a week, much less a year.

Guest

yes, and what about this?

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/88337312.html

people got hurt. physically.

i fucking hate double standards.