Posted on 04/16/2014 3:16:17 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Former customer Marie Bridgemahon says manager ejected her from Co-op City Pathmark because of the color of her skin. Another customer launched a racist rant against her moments before she was kicked out . Bridgemahon is now suing Pathmark.
A Co-op City Pathmark manager added insult to injury by escorting a customer out of the store following a racially charged slur from another patron, a new lawsuit charges.
Marie Bridgemahon and her daughter, both of whom are black, were forced to leave the Bartow Ave. grocery store in 2011 following an incident in which a white woman called her a “black b---h,” according to the suit, filed Monday.
But when a shocked Bridgemahon asked if the color of her skin was the reason for being singled out, the manager said “Yes, I’m putting you out because you’re black,” and later flicked ashes from a lit cigaratte at her while outside.
“I’m depressed. I’m sad every time I think about it,” said Bridgemahon, 56, a retired airline employee. “I can’t believe this happened. It’s like a nightmare.”
The abuse began Aug. 6 2011 when Bridgemahon and daughter Sade, then 24, approached another patron at a checkout line and asked if the unidentified woman was waiting.
The woman then inexplicably unleashed a tirade of racial slurs, calling Bridgemahon a “black b---h,” among other put-downs, papers filed in Bronx Supreme Court claim.
But when manager Daniel Rodgers and two stock workers approached, the racist customer continued her tirade.
Neither Rodgers, nor the stock workers said a word to the white woman who continued her racist rant, court papers state. Instead, they focused on Bridgemahon, and Rodgers told her to get out, “because she is black.” Rodgers then followed she and her daughter out of the grocery store.
I can't believe this happened. It's like a nightmare
Bridgemahon said she complained to a Pathmark district manager, who told her he was aware of the racist incident but insisted it was merely a joke. The district manager said it was against Pathmark’s policy to eject customers.
The suit seeks unspecified damages, and names Rodgers as a defendant. Rodgers could not be reached for comment.
Bridgemahon says she’d shopped at that Pathmark for years, but now has flashbacks when she returns to a supermarket.
“I’m afraid I’ll be thrown out because of the color of my skin,” said Bridgemahon, who lives in Northeast Bronx. “It hurts. It’s 2014 and I can’t get over it.”
Pathmark operates dozens of stores in the tristate area, including four in the Bronx. Neither Pathmark, nor its parent company, the Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, returned several calls and emails seeking comment Tuesday.
“She was embarrassed, humiliated, shocked that something like this could happen in New York City in 2011,” said Bridgemahon’s lawyer, Steven Seltzer, who added that his client sought counseling shortly after the episode. “When she thinks about the incident — when she has to deal with it — it becomes unpleasant and traumatic for her.”
Customers at the Co-op City Pathmark Tuesday said they were disgusted by the alleged incident. 70, a retired pharmaceutical worker from Fordham, said."I thought Pathmark was beyond overt racism. I guess things haven't changed that much."
I don’t believe this.
.
Well, at least we have one side of the story.
And never forget there is always 3 sides to a story
I don’t either.
Almost had to go to Pathmark Co Op City to install phone equipment years ago.
Thank God order got cancelled.
Be afraid, be very afraid ..
Pfft!
I've heard of someone named Ochocinco but who is this 70 person?
Co-op City has become very, I hate this word, diverse over the years. Either the store mgr did a piss-poor job of being sarcastic by telling her he’s kicking her out because she’s Black, or he is indeed is a weapons-grade nutcase, or this woman is full of it. Being that I’m somewhat familiar with that part of the Bronx, my BS sensors are overloading.
Awwwwwwwwwww.
==
Not buying it.
There had to be something that provoked the exchanges.
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Perhaps the problem was Ms Bridgemahon’s halo glowing so brightly that it blinded and disoriented those around her, causing them to respond with raging racist remarks.
I’m not really familiar with Co-Op City but have driven past it heading back to MA.
The story is very strange IMHO.
.
My thought as well, there must be a side of the story that we are not hearing.
After all, we all know that there are no racists in NY. You have to come down south if you want to find a racist.
Permanent race card carriers maxing out their balances again...
Judging by the look she’s giving the photographer, if Michelle Obama had a sister with a bigger attitude, this would be she.
Plus CNN’s side.
What gets me is she has flashbacks “everytime she returns to that store”. Why return to a store that trashed you? And don’t say the low prices. Most big cities have a few choices
for grocery shopping. It’s like the old joke of “The food at this restaurant is terrible! Yes, and such small portions too!!”
The first customer may have been real, there are mean people in any town if caught on an off day. That she say’s the manager asks her to leave ‘because she’s black’. I tend to doubt any manager would be that stupid, even if they felt this way. The ‘victim’ may have asked him; is it b/c I’m Black?. Maybe the manager said nothing, allowing her to fill in the blank to suit her worst scenario expectations.
What a great business model not accepting black customers in the Bronx. That really passes the smell test doesn’t it?
Another day, another racist/homophobe hoax.
This does sound fishy. If he really said those things he would be dead within minutes.
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