A Victoria man is claiming he was racially profiled in being physically blocked from entering a grocery store by a loss prevention officer.
Jonah Mamakeesic brought his German shepherd, Kai, along when he hopped on his bike May 23 and headed to Lifestyle Markets on Douglas Street to grab a few groceries.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 all about healthy options,B次元官网网址� says the Oji-Cree man, referring to the store heB次元官网网址檚 shopped in since he moved to Victoria seven years ago.
Mamakeesic says what happened next caught him totally off guard. He had barely made it past the entrance when a man dressed in plain clothes physically impeded his path and told him he had to leave. Upon questioning why, Mamakeesic says he was told by the man he wasnB次元官网网址檛 required to give a reason.
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A cashier employed by the market recognized the longtime customer and told the man B次元官网网址� a loss prevention officer employed by Templar Security B次元官网网址� to let him in, but he refused, so Mamakeesic requested to speak with a manager.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never had to deal with anyone being stopped at the door for no apparent reason,B次元官网网址� says Carmine Sparanese, general manager of the store. B次元官网网址淭o have it come back as racially profiling, itB次元官网网址檚 unbelievable.B次元官网网址�
Sparanese says staff have a list of former shoplifters or high-profile thieves that they keep an eye out for, but Mamakeesic isnB次元官网网址檛 one of them. He stresses everyone is welcome to shop in his store, but precautions have been taken over the last year after a rise in shoplifting and an increase in the presence of needles and other garbage outside the store.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 see how this is about race,B次元官网网址� Sparanese says. B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 know he was of any particular race.B次元官网网址�
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In diffusing the situation at the time, he told Mamakeesic he was welcome to shop, but understood if he wished to leave. The loss prevention officer, who employees later told both Mamakeesic and Sparanese has a history of being B次元官网网址渁ggressive,B次元官网网址� was left on the floor to finish his shift.
Sparanese says he didnB次元官网网址檛 see Mamakeesic when he left, but felt B次元官网网址渆verything went well.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淎s soon as I left, I broke into tears,B次元官网网址� says Mamakeesic, who is originally from Ontario.
He says he was in denial that the incident had anything to do with the colour of his skin. But, he regularly sees social media posts from family members back home who frequently encounter this kind of discrimination, often being asked to leave or barred from entering places, for no particular reason.
B次元官网网址淚 was in shock and disbelief, feeling like I didnB次元官网网址檛 have a reason to be upset,B次元官网网址� he explains. B次元官网网址淚 felt privileged that I donB次元官网网址檛 deal with this behaviour as often as they do or as often as other people might.B次元官网网址�
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Sparanese says he is responsible for his employees, but not those of a third party contractor. It wasnB次元官网网址檛 until after the incident that he says his staff brought the actions of the officer to his attention, saying there have been minor issues in the past.
B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 account for how they think sometimes,B次元官网网址� Sparanese says, adding that he spoke to the manB次元官网网址檚 supervisor at Templar and requested he not be assigned to work at Lifestyle Markets again.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not happy about any of this, we donB次元官网网址檛 deserve any of it,B次元官网网址� he adds.
Mamakeesic says the responsibility ultimately lies at the hands of both companies, who he feels are equally responsible for customer experiences, and heB次元官网网址檚 hesitant to continue spending his money there.
A college graduate who has worked in the hospitality industry and is now studying computer science, he sees the issue clearly.
B次元官网网址淲ho I am in my community is not what came to the mind of that security guard.B次元官网网址�
The B次元官网网址 reached out to Templar Security, leaving multiple messages that went unanswered at deadline.
