One Georgia clothing store is currently trying to stem the criticism against it by apologizing profusely for an appointment policy they adopted that is clearly discriminatory.
Civvies on Broughton in Savannah sparked a social media firestorm a few days ago after it said it would charge only white customers a refundable US$ 20 fee to shop at the vintage clothing store, WJCL reported.
However, the deposit, which was used to hold a customer’s appointment slot, was waived for customers of color. It is a blatant display of ignorance and discrimination against white people.
"Most of the feedback about our decision to waive this refundable deposit is racist because it favors Black people, indigenous people and people of color,” store manager Raine Blunk said, according to the news station.
"Obviously it is unfortunate to have thousands of people commenting and messaging us saying that they are going to sue us and have contacted the department of labor because this is a violation of their rights."
Blunk defended the policy, saying he believed what the store was doing "is within the confines of the law."
A few hours after the announcement, the store had posted an apology from the owners.
"It was not our intention to act in any way that might be perceived as discriminatory and for that we apologize," it read, according to its Facebook page.
In a now-deleted Facebook post, the store said it would waive the deposit fee for Black, indigenous and other people of color because "as a mostly white staff with white ownership, we do not feel comfortable upholding a digital and financial barrier which could prohibit BIPOC from shopping at our store at this time."
A barrage of criticism and online posts ensued, and the store's apology was of little consolation to white customers who felt slighted by the new policy.
"I'm sorry you interpreted what I did negatively' is not an apology," one user wrote on Civvies' Facebook page. "You have only demonstrated that you have learned nothing from this."
"No one 'perceived' it as discriminatory ... it is discriminatory," another added.
Another critic blasted the store for making "offensive assumptions about people of color and discrimination against white people."
Civvies on Broughton in Savannah sparked a social media firestorm a few days ago after it said it would charge only white customers a refundable US$ 20 fee to shop at the vintage clothing store, WJCL reported.
However, the deposit, which was used to hold a customer’s appointment slot, was waived for customers of color. It is a blatant display of ignorance and discrimination against white people.
"Most of the feedback about our decision to waive this refundable deposit is racist because it favors Black people, indigenous people and people of color,” store manager Raine Blunk said, according to the news station.
"Obviously it is unfortunate to have thousands of people commenting and messaging us saying that they are going to sue us and have contacted the department of labor because this is a violation of their rights."
Blunk defended the policy, saying he believed what the store was doing "is within the confines of the law."
A few hours after the announcement, the store had posted an apology from the owners.
"It was not our intention to act in any way that might be perceived as discriminatory and for that we apologize," it read, according to its Facebook page.
In a now-deleted Facebook post, the store said it would waive the deposit fee for Black, indigenous and other people of color because "as a mostly white staff with white ownership, we do not feel comfortable upholding a digital and financial barrier which could prohibit BIPOC from shopping at our store at this time."
A barrage of criticism and online posts ensued, and the store's apology was of little consolation to white customers who felt slighted by the new policy.
"I'm sorry you interpreted what I did negatively' is not an apology," one user wrote on Civvies' Facebook page. "You have only demonstrated that you have learned nothing from this."
"No one 'perceived' it as discriminatory ... it is discriminatory," another added.
Another critic blasted the store for making "offensive assumptions about people of color and discrimination against white people."