A group of black students over in Australia were kicked out of an Apple store, they say because of the colour of their skin, The Independent reported.
Footage shows Abdulahi, Gereng, Ésë, Mabior, Mohamed, and Petrieaged being approached by staff at the store in Melbourne.
Then an employee – escorted by a security guard – tells the teenagers to leave because employees were scared ‘they might steal something.’
The Apple employee tells them: “These guys are just a bit worried about the presence in the store. They are just worried you might steal something.”
The students were understandably offended and shocked by the blatant racist undertones of the request. One, Ésë, told Mashable: “It was just really offensive when he said ‘we are afraid you are going to steal something.’ It was shocking; it was racism.” Adding: “He didn’t even give us a chance.”
Another one of the students, Mohamed, wrote on Facebook: “Racial profiling has to stop, happens too often in America we don’t need here in Australia too.”
Apple released a statement, saying the incident was under investigation:
We want every person who joins our team, every customer visiting our stores or calling for support to feel welcome.
We believe in equality for everyone, regardless of race, age, gender, gender identity, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. That applies throughout our company, around the world with no exceptions.
