A fundraiser at a Walmart featuring a Black employee in a cage asking for "bail" money to contribute to the local Children's Miracle Network hospital is drawing withering criticism and demands for an investigation after a photo was posted to social media.
Angela Boateng spotted the display on Wednesday night at the Walmart in Providence, Rhode Island, where she was making a return. She snapped a photo that was later posted to Twitter by Angela Ankoma, who leads the Rhode Island Foundation's Equity Leadership Initiative. Ankoma in her post said she was "perplexed."
"As I was exiting that Walmart on Silver Spring, I noticed this cage, and I felt like I saw somebody and I went closer ... and I'm like, is there a young male in the cage? I just did not understand what was happening, but I was mortified," Boateng recalled in an interview Thursday with The Providence Journal, a member of the USA TODAY Network. "And as I went closer to read what was on the cage, I don't know really what came over me. I was just deeply offended."
Walmart says jail fundraiser against store rules
A sign on the cage read, "I'm in jail!!! I need bail!!! Help me raise $50 to get out!!" Donations, according to the sign, were being sent to the Children's Miracle Network's Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence.
The Journal called the store Thursday morning and was placed on hold for more than 20 minutes before being told a manager was not available to speak about the matter. The identity of the employee could not be confirmed by The Journal.
Walmart Corporation spokesman Joe Pennington said the location was participating in an annual Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals fundraiser during which the company encourages "store associates to creatively engage with one another and customers to raise money."
"The 'jail' fundraiser goes against company policy and should never be used," Pennington said. "We are reinforcing this with our stores in the area, and this display has been removed from our Providence location."
Boateng said she tried to complain to a store employee without much success. She plans to write to the corporation to express her concerns. She was particularly troubled that the display would be used the same month Rhode Island formally recognized Juneteenth.
Boateng called the display a "horrific ploy to get money in the doors" for the fundraiser for the Children's Miracle Network and Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence, a partner of the network.
"Walmart and Hasbro [Hospital] need to acknowledge their actions," Boateng said. "They need to apologize and let the community know what active steps they're taking to ensure this doesn't happen again. And I think that they just need to come public with it."
Hospital system asks Walmart not to run fundraiser again
It was not immediately clear who came up with the fundraising idea. Sarah Lyons, a spokeswoman for Lifespan Health System of which Hasbro Children's Hospital is a part, said it hadn't known about the fundraiser.
"As a partner of the Children’s Miracle Network, Walmart has been a great supporter and partner of Hasbro Children’s Hospital and we are very appreciative," Lyons said. "We were not aware of this particular fundraiser held as part of the Children’s Miracle Network campaign and have spoken with both the Children’s Miracle Network and the local store about fundraising alternatives moving forward."
Black Lives Matter demands investigation into Black employee put in 'jail'
On Thursday afternoon, the Black Lives Matter Rhode Island Political Action Committee released a statement demanding Walmart take accountability for its "demeaning" display and hold anyone involved responsible.
"Furthermore, an immediate and clear apology should be issued to all affected employees, while taking swift action to remove these displays from all Walmart stores," the PAC said. "Walmart must actively demonstrate its commitment to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace culture by engaging in meaningful dialogue with community leaders, activists, and organizations dedicated to combating racial disparities. Implementing comprehensive diversity and sensitivity training programs for all employees is crucial in this process."
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June 23, 2023 at 04:01AM
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Walmart says fundraiser featuring Black employee in a cage broke rules - USA TODAY
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