Wal-Mart on Damage Control

By James Sheldon on March 18th, 2010

Last Sunday around 7 p.m., Wal-Mart shoppers in Turnersville, NJ, were casually going about their business–comparing and contrasting dog food, laundry detergent, toys, greeting cards–only to be interrupted by a male voice, over the store intercom system:

“Attention, Wal-Mart Shoppers. All blacks need to leave the store.”

Customers were outraged. Employees were outraged. Many black people did leave, and went to Target. And the douche-bag who chose to flex his lack of comedic skills? He is no doubt reading this. Collecting links to his 15 minutes. Enjoy it, pal. I don’t know that screwing with the most powerful company in the world, and committing a crime of intimidation was the best battle to choose. Just so you understand, Wal-Mart is going to nail you with a civil suit. We’re talkin’ millions, slick. And who laughed? You? Your cronies? Yeah. I’m fired up!

Moments later, the store manager got on the intercom and apologized for the remark, and contacted the local police.

What we have here is the unfortunate ability to communicate. We live in an age lacking social decorum and responsibility, and while many do their fair share of intercom hijacking in grocery stores and Wal-Mart stores, most often they provide genuine humor. Never have I heard someone try to reignite the American Civil War or the American Civil Rights war via store intercom.

(Image via: Nashville Scene)