“Shopping While Black” Strikes Again!
Reporting by: Dennis Byron
January 7th, 2014, Los Angeles, CA – What began as a business trip to the Los Angeles area Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites (“Westin”) gift shop, ended with up and coming hip hop artist Krytykal (Jarae Liggion) and his manager Doug Liggion being labeled “suspicious”, paraded like criminals through a lobby, detained, searched and falsely accused of shoplifting.
Circumstances surrounding this event are disturbingly similar to other racially charged profiling cases that have littered the media in recent months. Incidents best described as “Shopping While Black.”
After making a purchase at the gift shop, the duo, in town for promotional purposes, were in the hotel lounge when approached by security. They were then embarrassingly marched through the hotel like common criminals, their bags searched. Only items purchased were discovered.
“It was crazy, they surrounded us like murder suspects and made us walk through the hotel like we robbed the place,” stated Krytykal.
“Before I started in the entertainment industry, I was a businessman so I know how you are supposed to treat paying customers. Before I started my first business I was a sheriff so I know the law. The Westin profiled us without any investigation and it was humiliating,” said Doug Liggion who is a member of the Westin Hotel’s Starwood Preferred Guest® program.
In their defense, the gift shop employee who reported Krytykal and his manager had this to say, “I didn’t say they stole anything—they just looked suspicious.”
With the support of the Davis Bozeman Law firm, Krytykal and Liggion are exploring avenues to bring awareness to this and other incidents of the kind.
“We are seeking an explanation as to why Krytykal and Mr. Liggion, would be treated in this manner by the Westin. We are continuing our investigation and will pursue every possible legal avenue for them. It is disappointing to know that for as much revenue that is generated by major corporations from the hip hop community; we still find these examples of disrespect. We are prepared to take legal action so we can stop major corporations from profiting while profiling.” – Attorney Mawuli Mel Davis, Davis Bozeman Law Firm
In addition to representing Lil Scrappy of Love & Hip Hop Atlanta, the Atlanta based Davis Bozeman Law firm recently represented DJ Mikeflo of Dead Prez in an incident with an airline.
Krytykal is prepared to launch a media campaign #westinwhileblack to raise awareness around corporate profiling by the Westin on January 20, 2014.
#westinwhileblack
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