Detroit’s Civil Rights and Justice Department lawyer racially profiled in GP

[Casual]

Shopping While Black: Detroit’s Civil Rights and Justice Department lawyer racially profiled in Grosse Pointe
Posted by: zjeffries Posted date: June 30, 2014 In: Front Page, Top Stories Of
GROSSE POINTE — Portia Roberson, an attorney and head of Detroit’s Civil Rights and Justice Department, was racially profiled in Grosse Pointe this weekend.


Shopping at the Talbots on Kercheval, June 29, Roberson went to the store to make a return. She was approached by two Grosse Pointe Police officers when leaving the fitting room.


The police searched her bags and checked her receipt, clearing her of wrongdoing. However, the officer did take her name and other identifying information and informed the store manager Roberson could not be held.


Other shoppers were not stopped.


This is how Roberson described the scenario in her social media update:


“I was in Grosse Pointe today at the Talbots on Kercheval. I had a somewhat large bag with me as well as my purse because I am returning two purchases that I ordered online and I needed a way to carry them in the store. I inform the sales clerk when I walk in that I have the second bag because I have two items to return, however, I want to look around first. I try on a pair of pants that I like so I come back out to see if they have another pair in a different color. I go back into the fitting room to make sure those fit also. I convince myself that I need both pairs [[of course) and leave the fitting room to pay for my items and return the others. When I exit the fitting room, I’m confronted by two Grosse Pointe police officers who ask to search my bag and ask me if I have any merchandise in the bag. I tell them to go ahead and search and point out the items and the receipt. He tells me it is clear that someone made a mistake and then takes my bag to the store manager to point out that everything that I have in my possession, I have purchased. They take my name, address, and phone number so it is on “record.” I then proceed to the counter to give them back all the items that I had intended to purchase and to return everything that I had previously purchased. The manager’s explanation was that she had asked the police to do a walk around the store because it was so busy [[four customers, including me)…I pointed out to her that after searching me, they left without searching anyone else. I must tell you that my hands were shaking and my voice cracked when speaking. Honestly, I am still shaken. Today, I received a very harsh reminder and I will be calling corporate headquarters in the morning.”


In posting about the incident she used the hashtags #notstealingfromanywherebutdefinitelynottalbots and #postracial.


Lt. Michael Seidel of the Grosse Pointe Police Department said Grosse Pointe Park police responded to the incident and confirmed that there was a call for service.


Grosse Pointe Park made headlines because of its decision to erect a barrier — first of snow, now of permanent materials — between Detroit and Grosse Pointe Park. The barrier is the brainchild of developer David Cotton who intends to revive Grosse Pointe Park’s shopping strip.


Calls to Talbots headquarters have not yet been returned.


According to the store’s website, “Talbots stores are designed to convey an open and welcoming feel that complements the brand’s timeless appeal.” They also describe their customer as “well-educated, active in their communities, and socially and culturally aware. They are typically Baby boomers though ageless in both style and attitude. Approximately 70 percent have a college education and the majority is professionally employed.”


Roberson is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Wayne State University law school. She is the daughter of former Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Dalton Roberson.




http://michigancitizen.com/shopping-...grosse-pointe/

[Hypestyles]

...Good thing I'm not inclined to shop there to begin with. Overpriced and overrated.

[Johnnny5]

I have to admit I don't frequent department stores, but isn't it a bit unusual for someone to come into a store with merchandise to return and "look around" and try on clothes prior to taking the clothes being returned to a sales counter? Add that to time being spent in the fitting rooms, and having a large bag and it seems like a behavior that could easily be confused with someone trying to shoplift.

[GUSHI]

Boycott the store,

[Mackinaw]

The blame is squarely on the store workers who called. Sounds like the Officers [[not sure why GPPark was doing work in GP proper, except all the cops for the latter were probably on donut breaks or walking the K-9 unit) did their job and got the heck outta there.

Not sure if it's worth piling on GP/GP government with this story, though it's potentially disturbing and, again, makes me suspicious of store management. And mind you, the Talbot's workers may not even be from GP-- we don't know.

[Cliffy]

She got profiled because she brought a large bag into the dressing room. Return your stuff and then shop. Common sense just doesn't prevail with some people.

[Goose]

I smell an agenda..... and what does the "barrier" [[which some like to refer to as a "market place") have to do with Talbots... two different cities... completely unrelated.....

[Tuere]

She got profiled because she brought a large bag into the dressing room. Return your stuff and then shop. Common sense just doesn't prevail with some people.

I get the sense that the individuals saying that she should have returned items first do not go shopping very often. I shop at these types of stores a few times a month and what happens very often when you approach the counter to return an item is that the salesperson will ask you if you want to look around first before you return your items. It's in the best interest of the store for you to make another purchase rather than walk out only having returned items. Many frequent shoppers would not think twice about looking around the store before making a return.

Before you defend the store so strongly against profiling you really should better understand a common practice before you jump all over the woman that was approached by officers for displaying some very common shopping behavior.

[Danny]

Richville Police and other suburban police force always do that to black people. So black folks have to be careful while walking into Richville.

Don't where your blackness while walking into white middle class suburbs. I don't think so!

That's pure racism in action [[not my comments), That's pure Michigan [[I mean 'Mich-issippi').

Here's my protest to all black people. Go to all of the Grosse Pointes, Wear your hoodies, shop in their stores, walk through their neighborhoods and freestyle. This is America, a free country. Black folks can live an go anywhere we want, so don't try to stop us.

Keep your eyes the prize.

[Honky Tonk]

Roberson is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Wayne State University law school.

Yet she didn't know you don't take a large bag into a fitting room with you for an extended period of time.

Other shoppers were not stopped.

Did other shopperstake a large bag into a fitting room for an extended period of time?

They take my name, address, and phone number so it is on “record.”

S.O.P. anywhere, including Detroit.

Grosse Pointe Park made headlines because of its decision to erect a barrier — first of snow, now of permanent materials — between Detroit and Grosse Pointe Park.

WTF does THAT have to do with this incident?

she had asked the police to do a walk around the store because it was so busy [[four customers, including me)…

Were any of the other customers "black"?




I wonder if she looked like her professionally taken PR photo the day she was in Talbot's, or if she had spoolies in her hair and pink, fuzzy house slippers, like Aretha Franklin wore when she visited our store.

[nain rouge]

I wonder if she looked like her professionally taken PR photo the day she was in Talbot's, or if she had spoolies in her hair and pink, fuzzy house slippers, like Aretha Franklin wore when she visited our store.

Wow, you sound racist.

[bailey]

I get the sense that the individuals saying that she should have returned items first do not go shopping very often. I shop at these types of stores a few times a month and what happens very often when you approach the counter to return an item is that the salesperson will ask you if you want to look around first before you return your items. It's in the best interest of the store for you to make another purchase rather than walk out only having returned items. Many frequent shoppers would not think twice about looking around the store before making a return.

Before you defend the store so strongly against profiling you really should better understand a common practice before you jump all over the woman that was approached by officers for displaying some very common shopping behavior.

I don't know. couple of years ago I went into the Village Ace with a coffee maker under my arm to return. Keep in mind I was a regular there and am still after the move to Mack [[even-though that location is just a nightmare) I needed lawn bags so I went to the seasonal section...grabbed some bags, looked around at few other things then made my way to the front to do the return and pay. The line was insanely long, someone obviously was working their first day, I had other things to do so I said fuck it, put the lawn bags down and walked out. I was followed out of the store and to my car where I was confronted about the coffee maker. I did not actually have a receipt, but the purchase was linked to my rewards card so I didn't need one for the return. I was asked [[told) to return to the store or the police would be called. Yes the guy was being an officious little prick, but seeing it through his eyes, I get it. How many times does he hear what I just told him? Anyway, after a few minutes, some minor embarrassment and inconvenience, I was on my way. I chalked it up overzealous loss prevention... but I can see how someone with this person's job would see other things.

[Honky Tonk]

Wow, you sound racist.[/COLOR]

I guess I'm not being clear and you're missing the point. To me, that article was setup to provoke a certain feeling and response. The day Aretha Franklin came in, she looked nothing like her dolled up album covers and PR photos. In fact, she had no make-up on. Casual and the day off are the key words here. She could have been anybody, and not the world-class singer. She did end up spending a lot of money, and we didn't search her.

[TKshreve]

I don't know. couple of years ago I went into the Village Ace with a coffee maker under my arm to return. Keep in mind I was a regular there and am still after the move to Mack [[even-though that location is just a nightmare) I needed lawn bags so I went to the seasonal section...grabbed some bags, looked around at few other things then made my way to the front to do the return and pay. The line was insanely long, someone obviously was working their first day, I had other things to do so I said fuck it, put the lawn bags down and walked out. I was followed out of the store and to my car where I was confronted about the coffee maker. I did not actually have a receipt, but the purchase was linked to my rewards card so I didn't need one for the return. I was asked [[told) to return to the store or the police would be called. Yes the guy was being an officious little prick, but seeing it through his eyes, I get it. How many times does he hear what I just told him? Anyway, after a few minutes, some minor embarrassment and inconvenience, I was on my way. I chalked it up overzealous loss prevention... but I can see how someone with this person's job would see other things.

Bailey - I see it through both sets of eyes as well. I think the onus of this situation does fall upon the customer bringing items back into the store. If you have receipts and rewards cards verifying your purchase - great! But save every clerk the headache of even having to worry, question or approach someone who otherwise could have taken initiative by clearing the air first and foremost. This is 2014. People don't really dish up "benefit of the doubt" on a grand scale these days.

Edit: Love the GPP made headlines by erecting barriers recently add on from the OP. Ulterior motives in their finest hour.

[Honky Tonk]

I don't know. couple of years ago I went into the Village Ace with a coffee maker under my arm to return. Keep in mind I was a regular there and am still after the move to Mack [[even-though that location is just a nightmare) I needed lawn bags so I went to the seasonal section...grabbed some bags, looked around at few other things then made my way to the front to do the return and pay. The line was insanely long, someone obviously was working their first day, I had other things to do so I said fuck it, put the lawn bags down and walked out. I was followed out of the store and to my car where I was confronted about the coffee maker. I did not actually have a receipt, but the purchase was linked to my rewards card so I didn't need one for the return. I was asked [[told) to return to the store or the police would be called. Yes the guy was being an officious little prick, but seeing it through his eyes, I get it. How many times does he hear what I just told him? Anyway, after a few minutes, some minor embarrassment and inconvenience, I was on my way. I chalked it up overzealous loss prevention... but I can see how someone with this person's job would see other things.

Are you "white"?

[bailey]

Are you "white"?

yup. I could see being "suspicious" of the clerk if I weren't and my entire career was in an area of law that deals with civil rights violations. I might jump first to the accusations of race profiling before I looked at my own conduct in the situation and how that conduct could be viewed by others.

[sumas]

I smell an agenda..... and what does the "barrier" [[which some like to refer to as a "market place") have to do with Talbots... two different cities... completely unrelated.....

The GGP business district, which re-branded themselves, West Park Market 12 yrs ago is on Kercheval. The Village, Where Talbots is, is on Kercheval the Hill shopping district is on Kercheval. I am pretty sure they all like that barrier.

GPP is practically standing on their heads to keep blacks out. Yep pure racism. I know, I lived there. My son and I were seated at an out door patio at a restaurant on Charlevoix. I was working as a book keeper for a largish landscape company and one of the workers walked by. He lived on Alter. We invited him to join us. The waitress didn't like it that a black man joined a white woman and child. He ordered a fool gold burger [[translate to cheese burger) The next day I find out they served him a burger loaded with Jalapeno peppers. I called the owner thinking she would care, boy was I wrong. Never ever went back. Can give plenty of stories like that.

[Johnnny5]

Before you defend the store so strongly against profiling you really should better understand a common practice before you jump all over the woman that was approached by officers for displaying some very common shopping behavior.

At the same time, don't you think this woman could have been more understanding as to why the store security team was suspicious of her actions? Is this really an obvious case of racial profiling or are her actions and a possible lack of communication between security and the sales staff to blame? If we should not be so quick to defend the store, how it is fine for others to quickly accuse and go as far all calling for a boycott?

Look, racial profiling exists. I've seen it blatantly many times in my life and I'm a clean cut white dude. I see it when I walk into the casino and the group of young black guys get their ID's checked and are asked to open their coats, but as a man of the same age and different skin color they allow to to pass right by. I've also seen how drastically different reactions can be when a young black man walks into a suburban store, in many cases it's not subtle.

Believe it or not I've also experienced profiling myself, so I know what it feels like. As a teen I remember being followed, questioned and even temporarily detained. I've never stolen anything in my life, but as a mid 90's grudge looking 17 year old kid I guess the store owners thought I fit the profile.
I don't know whether this woman was targeted because of her skin color, by pure coincidence or due to her actions. What I do know that if this is the most egregious case of "profiling" that she has encountered she is more fortunate than most.

[bailey]

Look, racial profiling exists. I've seen it blatantly many times in my life and I'm a clean cut white dude. I see it when I walk into the casino and the group of young black guys get their ID's checked and are asked to open their coats, but as a man of the same age and different skin color they allow to to pass right by. I've also seen how drastically different reactions can be when a young black man walks into a suburban store, in many cases it's not subtle.


Believe it or not I've also experienced profiling myself, so I know what it feels like. As a teen I remember being followed, questioned and even temporarily detained. I've never stolen anything in my life, but as a mid 90's grudge looking 17 year old kid I guess the store owners thought I fit the profile.

profiling, as you noted, isn't just limited to race. for the 20 minutes i worked in retail in college in a college town, we were briefed to watch out for teen to early 20s white girls in sweatshirts. If we saw one we were to call the shift manager, especially if one went into the changing room. apparently the mall stores were being hit all summer by little white girls in baggy sweatshirts.

of course profiling is sort of lazy... while we're being hyper-vigilant for white girls in sweatshirts, some well dressed dude could be robbing the place blind. but about a month after I quit they caught 3 of them with layers of stolen clothes on under the baggy sweatshirt.

I guess what I'm saying is, maybe Talbots had been hit in that manner before...so they were on the look out for similar behavior. OR everyone in gpp is a racist as Sumas continually claims.

[sumas]

I don't know. couple of years ago I went into the Village Ace with a coffee maker under my arm to return. Keep in mind I was a regular there and am still after the move to Mack [[even-though that location is just a nightmare) I needed lawn bags so I went to the seasonal section...grabbed some bags, looked around at few other things then made my way to the front to do the return and pay. The line was insanely long, someone obviously was working their first day, I had other things to do so I said fuck it, put the lawn bags down and walked out. I was followed out of the store and to my car where I was confronted about the coffee maker. I did not actually have a receipt, but the purchase was linked to my rewards card so I didn't need one for the return. I was asked [[told) to return to the store or the police would be called. Yes the guy was being an officious little prick, but seeing it through his eyes, I get it. How many times does he hear what I just told him? Anyway, after a few minutes, some minor embarrassment and inconvenience, I was on my way. I chalked it up overzealous loss prevention... but I can see how someone with this person's job would see other things.

If it makes you feel any better, I worked part time at Ace for a while. Their employees from Managers on down were huge thief's. At night after the store closed, people assigned garbage duty would collect all items that employees wanted and would stick the stuff behind the dumpsters. when employees left they would just collect their stuff. Who was I to report this to, they all did it. Loss prevention is or was a joke. They did relocate to Mack Ave. on the Detroit side. They still claim the address as Grosse Pointe.

[SWMAP]

"very often when you approach the counter to return an item is that the salesperson will ask you if you want to look around first before you return your items."
I have been shopping in clothing stores for 5 decades and I am pretty sure that this suggestion is never been made to me: that I should tote around a store bag full of clothing and take it into the dressing room instead of making the return immediately.

In fact, I have found that the branded bag is sort of identifier to store personnel when you walk out that you have been through check-out. If you bring one full of contents into the store - how will they know when you leave that you went through the cash-out line? Thus, they want you to make the return on your arrival.

I don't want bags and often try to carry purchases in my arms - but no, the purchases have to be tagged with an orange tag or I have to display the receipt prominently to demonstrate visually that I paid for my purchase.

So, however innocent Ms. Robinson's intentions, it cannot be denied that she carried a Talbot's bag into the store, advised a clerk that she wanted to look around while carrying it, took it and some merchandise into a dressing room and then was irate when the store wanted to check the contents of the bag. They likely called for police as soon as she walked into the dressing room. How would they know what she originally had in that bag or if the receipt that she didn't show on her arrival matched the items she was emerging with? AND, was she shopping the Clearance rack or the high-priced stuff? If the high-priced stuff, the store had more to lose if she was a shop-lifter.

Somehow, I don't think this is "shopping while Black " and I don't think she has much of a case. It sounds to me like the clerks were following their protocols.

[Goose]

Here's my protest to all black people. Go to all of the Grosse Pointes, Wear your hoodies, shop in their stores, walk through their neighborhoods and freestyle. This is America, a free country. Black folks can live an go anywhere we want, so don't try to stop us.

yeah, that will show them..... why not add a few more stereo types to "scare" whitey, have your pants hanging down to your knees and for extra effect why not put one of those 1980's giant boom boxes on your shoulder......

what "white richville grosse pointers" are afraid of, is not black people, its a mentality and attitude similar to what you just suggested... for example, GP has long had and been known for its preppy/conservative dressing style [[ie - talbots).... now long time residents see new residents and visitors bringing ghetto/hood style to their neighborhoods and it scares them...

any black GP resident that assimilates and adpots the conservative GP dress is obviously a sell out uncle tom........

go ahead and wear your hoodie and shop the stores like talbots [[probably won't find any hoodies for sale)... but if you think this is going to change attitudes you are mistaken......

[Pickford-Bentler]

If it makes you feel any better, I worked part time at Ace for a while. Their employees from Managers on down were huge thief's. At night after the store closed, people assigned garbage duty would collect all items that employees wanted and would stick the stuff behind the dumpsters. when employees left they would just collect their stuff. Who was I to report this to, they all did it. Loss prevention is or was a joke. They did relocate to Mack Ave. on the Detroit side. They still claim the address as Grosse Pointe.

http://www.jrrobertssecurity.com/sec...e-news0024.htm


According to this cite, 49% of shrinkage is employee theft and 32% is shoplifting. Another segment is administrative error - polite way to say embezzlement.

[Dan Wesson]

The quandary concerning profiling of any sort is that there is a modicum of truth involved.

It's the old one bad apple spoils it for everybody syndrome.

[Dan Wesson]

Here's my protest to all black people. Go to all of the Grosse Pointes, Wear your hoodies, shop in their stores, walk through their neighborhoods and freestyle. This is America, a free country. Black folks can live an go anywhere we want, so don't try to stop us.

Keep your eyes the prize.

Let's try a little role reversal. Would I do that now where I used to live in The D?

Hell I wouldn't do that when I did. It weren't smart...