THE MANAGER OF an Apple store in Melbourne, Australia has apologised after a group of black students were kicked out of the establishment this week, and told that staff were “worried [they] might steal something.”
A video of the incident went viral on Tuesday, and prompted allegations of racism and racial profiling by the store’s management.
In the short clip posted on Facebook by Francis Osé, one of the students at Maribyrnong High School, a member of staff addresses the group.
These guys [security staff] are just a bit worried about your presence in our store.
When several of the boys ask “What’s the reason for that?”, the Apple employee responds:
They’re just worried you might steal something.
As the group expresses their disbelief – one asking “Why would we steal something?” – the staff member insists:
Guys – end of discussion. I need to ask you to leave our store.
Yesterday, the six boys’ school principal, Nick Scott, returned with them to the store, where the manager apologised to them, the Herald Sun reports.
In a statement sent to TheJournal.ie, the company also offered its apologies.
Inclusion and diversity are among Apple’s core values. We believe in equality for everyone, regardless of race, age, gender, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.
That applies throughout our company, around the world with no exceptions. We’ve looked into the details of the situation and we apologize to the customers involved.
We will continue to do everything in our power to ensure all our customers are treated the way they should be.
On Facebook, one of the students involved, Mohammed Semra, wrote:
The world knows our story. This could have happened to any other African kid. Racial profiling needs to stop, period.
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