On April 3, 2020, I became the victim of a physical assault by a Black male named John Doe at the Walmart located on Broad Street in Sumter. What began as a normal shopping trip turned into a nightmare as I was simply disposing of plastic shopping bags in the crate that held my groceries. Moments after the assault, as I attempted to contact the authorities to report the incident, I endured verbal abuse. Even more troubling, three female employees of Walmart witnessed the occurrence but chose not to report it to a store manager. By congregating and failing to act, these employees condoned John's violent behavior. This lack of accountability is not only disappointing but unacceptable.

Adding insult to injury, Walmart's attorneys later claimed I was the aggressor in this situation. Their refusal to mediate before the trial only highlights a larger, more troubling issue at hand: the perpetuation of racial stereotyping in their legal representation. As a Black woman, I find it racially diabolical and unacceptable to be labeled as aggressive when I was only striving to protect myself. The stereotype of the "Angry Black Woman" has been historically used to dehumanize Black women and justify their mistreatment, and it is deeply embedded in systemic racism. It is time for corporations like Walmart to acknowledge and dismantle these dangerous racial biases.

Walmart has a responsibility to ensure that their attorneys and employees are educated, aware, and actively working to be anti-racist. They must take immediate steps to address and rectify the racial biases that permeate their corporate culture. This includes having open dialogues about race, implementing comprehensive training programs, and ensuring there are clear protocols for addressing racial discrimination in any form.

I am calling on all who believe in fairness, equality, and justice to join me in demanding Walmart hold their employees and legal representatives accountable.

Please, sign this petition to urge Walmart to take concrete actions towards fostering an environment free from racial bias and stereotypes. Let's stand together to ensure that no other individual faces the injustice I endured.

Help me protect all of us, by not shopping at Walmart the entire month of November.