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HBO Actor Sues Macy’s for Racial Profiling in Class Action Lawsuit
By Dominic Rivera
Rob Brown, the star of HBO’s “Treme,” has filed a federal class action lawsuit against Macy’s department store, claiming he was handcuffed by NYPD cops after buying an expensive watch and for being black. The incident reportedly happened at Macy’s flagship store at Herald Square in New York City.
The 29-year old actor claims in the class action lawsuit that he was unlawfully detained in June while buying his mother a $1,300 Movado watch as a graduation gift. He also filed the same class action lawsuit against the NYPD for performing what he calls a “shop and frisk” action against minority shoppers.
According to the class action lawsuit, Brown was stopped by three white men whom he believed were NYPD cops after buying the watch. It was there where he was “publicly and falsely” accused of credit card fraud.
He narrated further that he was handcuffed “like an already convicted common criminal” and brought to the holding cell where he claimed he was berated for an hour. It was only when the cops realized who he was that he was released and even offered a police escort going to his mother’s graduation.
Brown’s lawsuit also cites 14 other minority customers who have sued Macy’s because they were allegedly singled out mainly out of suspicion because of their race. The class action lawsuit also noted that Macy’s has not changed its security practices even after a 2005 settlement with the Attorney General over racial profiling complaints.
A spokesman for Macy’s said the department store does not tolerate discrimination of any kind, including profiling.
Brown had earlier filed a state lawsuit but dropped it in anticipation of this class action lawsuit, which has not yet been granted class certification.
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4 thoughts onHBO Actor Sues Macy’s for Racial Profiling in Class Action Lawsuit
African American male and Macy did the same thing to me. I became so angry they called the police and all was swept under the RUG!!! Racism all up in my FACE!!! nothing was ever done!!! they are the worst along with Normstrom!
I acknowledged my mother on Camera, and the whole place boooed…. can you guess who she is?? Also… as an actress and model myself they refused to offer me a sample of my own Label.
#2 I went to macys in North hollywood ca. I had security following me around like I was going to steal something.
I had the same thing happen to me at Macy in San Francisco… over $20.00 bills I use to pay for my purcharse. All of a sudden sercurity peopolecame out of no where to exaime the $20.00 bills I was using to say they where fake money. Money was real!… Never once did they offer offering an apology. Macy has it bad!