An Ableist Incident In A Tennessee Walgreen's
In Johnson City, Tennessee, a disabled woman, Ms. Amanda Moore, was attempting to purchase supplies from her local Walgreens when the store contacted the police, suspecting she had been attempting to shoplift items. Items which were, by Ms. Moore's account, clearly displayed in an open bag, unconcealed, due to the inconvenience it would cause her disability to push a shopping cart through the store. The police arrived, followed by managerial staff, and the company of probing eyes. The cloth shopping bag was emptied for the benefit of suspicion- 3 pairs of $5 leggings, and nasal spray, all items which were reportedly clearly visible atop her spare braces in a "splayed open" bag, as she was caught in the act of heading towards the check-out counter with an open purse and coupon. After several minutes of harassment and embarrassment, Moore walked out of the store, apprehensive of being arrested, and proceeded to her car, where she reportedly sat distraught for 30 minutes after the incident, prior to sharing her experience on Facebook. As Ms. Moore states in her post, "I explained to the 4 policemen, 2 rude sales clerks, and all the Walgreens shoppers standing around gawking that I had a disability and couldn't push a cart or carry a basket, that I had a hurt knee, wrist, and hand."
In a request for update to Ms. Moore, she says that neither the police, managerial staff, or sales clerk apologized. She says that upon realizing that she needed these items, re-approached the store, and requested the name of the district manager, and a phone number. While they provided the name of the district manager of the store (Greg Mcullom), they, in response to her request for a phone number, directed her to 1.800.walgreens.
"It's not about my personal experience, this is about people who are vulnerable being treated less than human."
"It's not about my personal experience, this is about people who are vulnerable being treated less than human."
