**** Looking for others with similar experience to file legal complaints.****
I went into this 7-Eleven to buy me a Snapple and some cookies. I walked in and walked straight to the back and got me a Snapple. I then walked over to the candy/cookies area to look for the cookies but I wouldn't find them. I noticed that the Indian lady with a large tablet came over and stood by the end of the isle. I kept minding in my own business but eventually decided to look for the cookies in another isle. I walk to the next isle over and after a few seconds she walked to the end of the isle and stood there. After some time of looking for the cookies, I decided to go to another isles and look for the cookies there. I walked over two isles, to where they have the donuts (if I remember correctly), and sure enough she walked to the end of the isle. At that time I realized that she was following me around the store. So to confirm it, I walk back to the candy isle, and sure enough she walked there. Went to another isle, and again, she followed. Again, I went to back to the candy isle and she followed. To be honest, I think that I went walked to more isles but I lost count. And she went there every single time. So I decided to confront her.
She told me that she had no idea what I was talking about. That she was not following me and that she was only doing inventory.
At no time did she looked at any items. most of the time she stood facing away from the shelves. She never counted anything or moved anything around. Didn't even bother looking at the shelves. She just stood at the end of the isle acting like she was using the tablet she had while keeping an eye on me from the corner of her eyes.
The guy at the register (an old Indian guy) asked me what was going on. He told me that she was not following me around and that she was only doing inventory. I told him that that BS since she had followed me to different isles (six isles to be exact). She had a smirk on her face like it was all a joke. They both laughed at me like I was crazy. I understand if it had happened once or twice. Really pushing it three times, but I know that she followed to at least six isles. That is not a coincidental but intentional.
Why they target me? I do not know. I was wearing tight lycra leggings and a fitting t-shirt with a tiny wallet hanging from my side. No where to hide anything. But, at one point she even called me a "he." Perhaps my size intimidated her. I am naturally tall for a girl and a former bodybuilder. With a body like mine ignorant people often come up with all kinds of ignorant conclusions. I've been called a "tranny" before. Something that most people don't know is that that is insulting to transsexual people. I have a feeling that she thought that I was a transsexual person. In India, trans and transsexual people are viewed a trash by many. Even if I was a trans person, she has no right or excuse to treat people that way. Regardless of their race, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, etc.
Since ignorant racist people don't discriminate against only one person one time. I am sure that they have done it to others as well. I confronted them so I am sure that they will be more careful about how they go about their racist ways. But who knows, they laughed it off so may be they aren't too concern about it. I would like to find others with similar experiences in this 7-Eleven or other 7-Elevens. We could file legal complaints with the DOJ and other government agencies against this and other 7-Elevens. May be even sue them.
I hope to stop this behavior not only to teach them that what they do is not right, but also because one day they could end up doing it to the wrong person and they could end up hurt or even killed. As a Paramedic, I've seen plenty of people who have been beaten up, stabbed, and shot for much less. Specially right now with how high racial tensions are. read more
