Incident happened three days ago in Philadelphia, PA at approximately 5:40PM.
Here is the situation:
My younger brother and his friends came down from their high school to buy costumes. They came to my home, and we talked a bit. Nothing happens. They all then drive off to a costume store called "Party City". About fifteen minutes after they left, I receive a call from my younger bro with him telling me that he and his friends weren't allowed in because they were, "...not old enough." My brother and all his friends are 17. My brother asks me to come with them because I was a legal adult, and so I did just that. As I walked in, the security guard still wouldn't let any of us in. I straightforwardly told the security guard, "Would you like to see my ID?" She said yes to me. I gave her my ID, which is a state issued driver's license. The security guard asks me if it's real, and I said yeah to her in a blunt manner then just snatching my ID back. We all get in. Mind you, we're also the ONLY Asian group in there.
About twenty minutes into looking at costumes, another staff member of the store walks past us and rudely tells us, "Put that back or I will have you guys escorted out." My group and I looked at each other puzzled because we were going to buy the items that we had in our hands. The lady then told us again, "You are all young people and you should respect your olders, 'cause I will have you guys kicked out the store." In my amazement, we didn't do anything for this to happen. My brother and his friends also claimed that the same staff member that approached us and threatened us was also the one that didn't let them in at first. As we were going to check out our items, we heard the same woman walk by just blabbering racial epithets and slurs.
I felt honestly offended by what happened and threatened. My group felt the same way as I did. I also feel as though as we had age discrimination go on along with some form of racial profiling used to attack us (as the woman kept referring us to "you" and the racial slurs that were heard). I also found it really offensive when I saw the guard let other people in at anytime (people who looked WAY younger than my brother were allowed in), but didn't let us in. The scene also caused embarrassment as people were lining up to watch what happened to us.
I already wrote out a letter of concern to the corporate office, but I would like to know what I can do if this ever happens again to me?
Thanks.
Here is the situation:
My younger brother and his friends came down from their high school to buy costumes. They came to my home, and we talked a bit. Nothing happens. They all then drive off to a costume store called "Party City". About fifteen minutes after they left, I receive a call from my younger bro with him telling me that he and his friends weren't allowed in because they were, "...not old enough." My brother and all his friends are 17. My brother asks me to come with them because I was a legal adult, and so I did just that. As I walked in, the security guard still wouldn't let any of us in. I straightforwardly told the security guard, "Would you like to see my ID?" She said yes to me. I gave her my ID, which is a state issued driver's license. The security guard asks me if it's real, and I said yeah to her in a blunt manner then just snatching my ID back. We all get in. Mind you, we're also the ONLY Asian group in there.
About twenty minutes into looking at costumes, another staff member of the store walks past us and rudely tells us, "Put that back or I will have you guys escorted out." My group and I looked at each other puzzled because we were going to buy the items that we had in our hands. The lady then told us again, "You are all young people and you should respect your olders, 'cause I will have you guys kicked out the store." In my amazement, we didn't do anything for this to happen. My brother and his friends also claimed that the same staff member that approached us and threatened us was also the one that didn't let them in at first. As we were going to check out our items, we heard the same woman walk by just blabbering racial epithets and slurs.
I felt honestly offended by what happened and threatened. My group felt the same way as I did. I also feel as though as we had age discrimination go on along with some form of racial profiling used to attack us (as the woman kept referring us to "you" and the racial slurs that were heard). I also found it really offensive when I saw the guard let other people in at anytime (people who looked WAY younger than my brother were allowed in), but didn't let us in. The scene also caused embarrassment as people were lining up to watch what happened to us.
I already wrote out a letter of concern to the corporate office, but I would like to know what I can do if this ever happens again to me?
Thanks.
