I live in Georgia.
I am so glad I stumbled upon this site. Thank you in advanced for answering my questions. This is my story.... Yesterday a few friends and I went to a small hobby shop, which we have been going to on occasion for several years, to attend an event that was being held there. We arrived late and were not able to attend the event. We were given the option to pay the entry fee to cross the event line and interact with the other attendees. We chose not to. We did however browse for a few minutes and two of us ended up making a couple purchases.
While the others were examining there newly bought merchandise I stood beyond the line separating the main event from the rest of the store watching from the distance as instructed. Two minutes later I am approached by the store owner and asked to leave. Caught off guard I asked why I would have to leave. He told me because I was not participating in the event and was not buying anything he could kick me out. Befuddled by his rudeness I questioned him letting him know for the past several years I have never been asked to leave or witnessed anyone being asked to leave for not buying anything. This rose an eyebrow for me considering there were two other patrons in the store who did buy anything and were not being harassed or embarrassed. After another minute of him telling me to leave he called 911. Intimidated by the owner’s actions the few friends I was with I suppose in a last ditch effort to get me to come with them (we carpooled) left after I made it clear I was going to stay until the police arrived.
I was not sure the course of action to take. I am a reasonable responsible individual. I am nineteen. I don't drink or smoke or do any of those typical activities of my age group. I am a good law abiding citizen. As such, not wanting any trouble, I left the store and called another pal who was close by to pick me up. While waiting outside the store owner attempted to take a picture of me with his phone. I told him he did not have my consent to do so and he did anyway. He then snapped, “Nine cameras already captured your face!” To which I responded, “Then you don’t need to take a picture of me.” This is what truly upset me. Being treated like a criminal. After he stole a mug shot I walked to the next store in the plaza and waited there until the cops came and told them what happened.
I am now banned from the store and not permitted to come within 500 feet without risking being arrested under criminal trespassing. About ten minutes after the cops left my friend got there to get get me but he wanted to check something first. He, a well dressed white young adult, went into the store was browsed around. He was greeted by the store owner as he preceded to go past the event line unchallenged. He stayed in the store browsing longer than I did. Long enough to count approximately thirty attendees six of which where not participating only interacting and out of the near forty people only three African Americans there.
I feel I was unfairly treated, embarrassed, and discriminated against (I am black. I know people will often unfairly "play that card" but in all my life I have never felt so unjustly treated by anyone this is the only reason I can fathom of why). Because of the scene this incident caused rumors among the local hobby community (the next closest place is about 30 minutes away) will certainly start about me. This leads me to my questions... Is the store owner within his right to treat me as he did? If not what legal action can I take against him?
I am so glad I stumbled upon this site. Thank you in advanced for answering my questions. This is my story.... Yesterday a few friends and I went to a small hobby shop, which we have been going to on occasion for several years, to attend an event that was being held there. We arrived late and were not able to attend the event. We were given the option to pay the entry fee to cross the event line and interact with the other attendees. We chose not to. We did however browse for a few minutes and two of us ended up making a couple purchases.
While the others were examining there newly bought merchandise I stood beyond the line separating the main event from the rest of the store watching from the distance as instructed. Two minutes later I am approached by the store owner and asked to leave. Caught off guard I asked why I would have to leave. He told me because I was not participating in the event and was not buying anything he could kick me out. Befuddled by his rudeness I questioned him letting him know for the past several years I have never been asked to leave or witnessed anyone being asked to leave for not buying anything. This rose an eyebrow for me considering there were two other patrons in the store who did buy anything and were not being harassed or embarrassed. After another minute of him telling me to leave he called 911. Intimidated by the owner’s actions the few friends I was with I suppose in a last ditch effort to get me to come with them (we carpooled) left after I made it clear I was going to stay until the police arrived.
I was not sure the course of action to take. I am a reasonable responsible individual. I am nineteen. I don't drink or smoke or do any of those typical activities of my age group. I am a good law abiding citizen. As such, not wanting any trouble, I left the store and called another pal who was close by to pick me up. While waiting outside the store owner attempted to take a picture of me with his phone. I told him he did not have my consent to do so and he did anyway. He then snapped, “Nine cameras already captured your face!” To which I responded, “Then you don’t need to take a picture of me.” This is what truly upset me. Being treated like a criminal. After he stole a mug shot I walked to the next store in the plaza and waited there until the cops came and told them what happened.
I am now banned from the store and not permitted to come within 500 feet without risking being arrested under criminal trespassing. About ten minutes after the cops left my friend got there to get get me but he wanted to check something first. He, a well dressed white young adult, went into the store was browsed around. He was greeted by the store owner as he preceded to go past the event line unchallenged. He stayed in the store browsing longer than I did. Long enough to count approximately thirty attendees six of which where not participating only interacting and out of the near forty people only three African Americans there.
I feel I was unfairly treated, embarrassed, and discriminated against (I am black. I know people will often unfairly "play that card" but in all my life I have never felt so unjustly treated by anyone this is the only reason I can fathom of why). Because of the scene this incident caused rumors among the local hobby community (the next closest place is about 30 minutes away) will certainly start about me. This leads me to my questions... Is the store owner within his right to treat me as he did? If not what legal action can I take against him?
Last edited:
