**before reading further please know that the family involved has read everything below and has given their blessing and permission to use it and the above photo for this call to action on their behalf.**  

Less than one week ago the community of Lynnwood along with support from neighboring cities, showed up and lined 52nd street to peacefully protest the brutal murder of George Floyd and all lives taken by law enforcement as a direct result of the pandemic of racism this country has been afflicted with for the last 400 plus years. Signs were made, pictures and videos were posted online and hashtags were used in a community wide effort to show our support of the Black Lives Matter movement and of our black and brown families that live in our community and beyond. 

This past weekend the father of a black family that was in attendance at that event, who is active duty military with the US. Navy, was shopping alone at a Fred Meyer in Lynnwood, Washington when he was racially profiled, followed and harassed by security in plain clothes.  When he asked why he was being followed the security guard told him he was “just doing his job”. The security guard harassed, yelled at, and then kicked him out of the store for “trespassing”.  The security guard continued to follow him to his car as he left the store threatening to call local local police to report him for trespassing and falsely claiming that this customer was threatening him, making a direct threat to his life.   

By signing this petition you are: 

#1- supporting the need for a public response to this incident from Fred Meyer. 

#2- committing to not spending your money at Fred Meyer or Kroger stores until they have responded publicly and share in that response what their company policy is as it pertains to racial profiling in their stores as well as what action will be taken at the corporate and local store level as a direct response to this specific incident and the store employees involved. 

You can also show your support by: 

-Writing your own letter to Fred Meyer.

-Share this petition! - use the power of social media to call attention to this crime. Remember to @ the store in your posts.  Tag community leaders or activists that have a bigger reach than everyday citizens.  

*****TO BE VERY CLEAR, THIS IS NOT A CALL TO GO TO THE STORE TO PROTEST.  WITH THE CURRENT CLIMATE IN RELATION TO RACIAL  INJUSTICE IN THIS COUNTRY NOW  WE ASK THAT YOU STAY FOCUSED ON HOLDING FRED MEYER ACCOUNTABLE AND INSISTING THEY PUBLICLY ADDRESS THE INCIDENT. USE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA, WRITE A LETTER, MAKE A PHONE CALL OR SIGN THE PETITION.  THANK YOU*****