Bank One - Discriminates against South Side Coommunity;
Full Article: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/061504_ns_bankone.html
Quote:
A bank branch on the high-crime south side of Chicago is accused of being racist because it requires customers to go through a metal detector on their way into the building, reports ABC7.
Protestors are demanding an apology and that the magnetometer be removed from the Bank One branch at 81st and South Cottage Grove.
The Rev. Michael Pleger of Saint Sabina Catholic Church called the situation, “pure racism, racial profiling, black while banking, it's stereotyping, it's sending every negative message you can send.”
State Sen. Jacqueline Collins agreed. " When Bank One only enacts such restrictive access and displays such offensive signage within this African American community, then this policy becomes demeaning, disrespectful, and discriminating," she said.
Hmmmm...... So, does this mean that the bars you see protecting the windows of local businesses and homes in this section of Chicago, are actually signs of racism and should be torn out, because windows in the better parts of Chicago are not barred?
It will never cease to amaze me how some people live in the "complaint line" and always look for the negative connotations. This is not an example of racism. This is an example of the bank attempting to protect it's investment. If only black people were required to pass through the metal detector, then there would be a legitimate reason for complaint. As it is though, everyone must pass through the metal detector, so no discrimination has occured.
These people really have no room to complain. The bank is providing a service to the community by building the bank in the first place. As a matter of fact, I bet that the level of security would be admired by the Federal and State regulatory agencies.
