Walmart has been criticized for this practice following protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd
Walmart will stop keeping personal care products designed for people of color in locked storefronts, said the retailer, after the practice drew attention to the posting, with many claiming it was impossible to trust customers for these products.
“We have made the decision to no longer place multicultural hair and beauty products in locked cases,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
Walmart said the practice was in place in a dozen of its 4,700 stores in the United States and that cases were in place to deter shoplifters from products such as electronics, automobiles, cosmetics and other personal care products.
The retailer’s criticism comes at a time when the United States was rocked by protests against racial discrimination after the murder of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, on May 25.
The Walmart policy change was prompted by a June 8 CBS News report that a Walmart customer complained about discriminatory practices against people of color during a visit to a city store in Denver.
“Multicultural hair care is all locked behind the glass. It’s so ridiculous,” said Lauren Epps, a black woman quoted in the report.
Many companies have issued statements in favor of the black community, in addition to setting up funds to combat systematic racism.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said the company, along with the Walmart Foundation, will commit $ 100 million to create a new center on racial equity.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
