Black Friday's Foreseeable Tragedy
Dear Mr. Zorn,
Like you, I was shocked and saddened to hear about the tragic death of Wal-Mart employee Jdimytai Damour in Long Island, New York on Black Friday.
The very next day, on a television show, entitled "The World's Stupidest Shoppers" footage from years past showed frenzied shoppers rushing overwhelmed clerks, limited security staff, with fist-fights, trampled customers and more, and it was not surprising to see that many of these instances took place at Wal-Mart stores. Watching the show, what was most surprising was that it had not happened before. While his death was an accident, it was absolutely preventable.
One untrained worker should not have been asked to control a crowd of thousands by himself. If Wal-Mart had provided appropriate security, Mr. Damour would be with his family this holiday season. In fact, the Boston Globe estimated this Tuesday that the additional security would have only cost Wal-Mart around $6,000.
It is not the responsibility of taxpayers to fund police protection for the crowds that gather to spend money at your stores. It is Wal-Mart’s responsibility.
If Wal-Mart or any other company plans to profit by creating a sales frenzy, it must also be responsible to pay whatever it takes to protect its shoppers and workers.
In the future, I urge you to do everything in your power to see that Wal-Mart protects the safety of its customers and employees so that something like this tragic incident does not happen again.
Respectfully,
Gil & Bobbi Jo Chavarria
Fontana, CA 92335
Write your own letter!: http://action.walmartwatch.com/page/content/accountable
Like you, I was shocked and saddened to hear about the tragic death of Wal-Mart employee Jdimytai Damour in Long Island, New York on Black Friday.
The very next day, on a television show, entitled "The World's Stupidest Shoppers" footage from years past showed frenzied shoppers rushing overwhelmed clerks, limited security staff, with fist-fights, trampled customers and more, and it was not surprising to see that many of these instances took place at Wal-Mart stores. Watching the show, what was most surprising was that it had not happened before. While his death was an accident, it was absolutely preventable.
One untrained worker should not have been asked to control a crowd of thousands by himself. If Wal-Mart had provided appropriate security, Mr. Damour would be with his family this holiday season. In fact, the Boston Globe estimated this Tuesday that the additional security would have only cost Wal-Mart around $6,000.
It is not the responsibility of taxpayers to fund police protection for the crowds that gather to spend money at your stores. It is Wal-Mart’s responsibility.
If Wal-Mart or any other company plans to profit by creating a sales frenzy, it must also be responsible to pay whatever it takes to protect its shoppers and workers.
In the future, I urge you to do everything in your power to see that Wal-Mart protects the safety of its customers and employees so that something like this tragic incident does not happen again.
Respectfully,
Gil & Bobbi Jo Chavarria
Fontana, CA 92335
Write your own letter!: http://action.walmartwatch.com/page/content/accountable
Comments