Macy’s says merciless attack on white staff by black man for allegedly using N-word was ‘unprovoked’
FLINT TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN: Macy’s has said the assault on one of its supposed employees by a black man, and which was caught on camera, "was unprovoked". Police are searching for the two men involved in the incident at the Genesee Valley Center store, and who fled the scene after the attack. Though the department store chain has not identified the man who was beaten mercilessly inside the store, township police Lt. Brad Wangler said on Friday, June 19, he was an employee of Macy’s.
Andrea Schwartz, senior director of media relations for Macy’s, said in an email to MLive -The Flint Journal, “We are deeply saddened about the incident that took place on Monday (June 15) at Macy’s Genesee Valley as the safety of Macy’s customers and colleagues is our top priority. Violence in the workplace of any kind is unacceptable. All the materials from the evening have been reviewed and it is clear that the attack was unprovoked. We are working closely with local authorities on this investigation, and will defer any further comments about the case to them per policy.”
The statement from Macy’s came after local police said that they were investigating the matter captured on video which has been shared widely on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. The video was reportedly originally posted by local rapper FT Quay who alleged that he and a “bro” went to Macy’s and asked an employee on the phone about a shirt size. He said that the man replied to them and then returned to his call where he allegedly told someone, “No one just some n****r,” prompting one of the black men to pounce on him. However, the video does not show the moment when the white man allegedly used the racial slur.
“We are looking for them as we speak. It’s not something that’s been put on the back burner. We want to find out what happened,” Wangler said of the black man punching the employee and the man filming it. Police were reportedly called to the scene at around 5:45 pm on Monday. “Officers learned an employee of the store was assaulted by a young black male who fled the scene with a second individual after the assault. The store surveillance video confirmed the assault against the employee. Investigators also learned the assault was recorded by the second individual and shared on social media,” the statement from police said.
The short video shared by Quay showed the employee of Macy’s wearing a cloth mask while talking on a phone when he was suddenly punched in the head by a man. “I didn’t touch you ... I’m sorry,” the employee on the ground said before he was punched a second and a third time by the man. Meanwhile, a Macy’s spokesperson has said that they have tightened security at the store following the incident.
This incident comes amid nationwide protests happening in the country following the May 25 death of George Floyd. Floyd, an unarmed African-American, was allegedly killed by a former Minneapolis officer who knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.