Mall confused about boycott by parents

News 14 Carolina ^ | July 17, 2002 | Tim Boyum & Web Staff

[Paul Atreides]

Store owners and shoppers at Northgate Mall in Durham are stunned and confused about the news of a boycott.

Monday afternoon, angry parents at Hillside High School asked the black community to stop shopping at the mall. The parents are upset about changes the school district is making at the high school including the removal of its principal.

The parents admit there’s no connection between the mall and the district. All they will say is they want to use their buying power as leverage.

Most mall shoppers approached Tuesday did not want to speak on the issue because they either hadn’t heard of the boycott or couldn’t understand why the parents were associating the school with the mall.

Mall management doesn’t understand the boycott either. In a statement, the director of operations said Northgate mall does not participate in partisan political activities and is very concerned any group would target the merchants at the time when there are economic concerns at-large in the retail industry and in the Durham economy.

Board of Education members appear to be split on the idea of the boycott. Some said boycotting a mall will have no impact on a school decision. Others said when businesses are affected, schools are affected.

[sinkspur]

The mall should be grateful; there'll be less theft.

[Skwidd]

Quick! Do something! Anything!

Must have been suggested by a politician.

[Jonathon Spectre]

The parents admit there’s no connection between the mall and the district. All they will say is they want to use their buying power as leverage.

I'm going to stop shopping at Publix because I don't like the Chinese military.

[per loin]

If these parents were serious, they'd extend the boycott to all products from Latvia.

[isthisnickcool]

Morons....

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I'm switching to loafers until the Principal is re-instated.

[SauronOfMordor]

The mall should be grateful; there'll be less theft.

The boycott is on shopping at the mall -- didn't say anything about not stealing ...

[SouthernFreebird]

Yea,.....that'll Learn 'em....... idiots

[Amerigomag]

The mall should be grateful; there'll be less theft

Classic!

Send this as a letter of support to the mall management.

[gcruse]

Attacking innocent bystanders in furtherance of political goals---isn't that terrorism?

[JZoback]

Simply amazing.

People wonder what is wrong with our country.

Is there no one person in that school district that owns a backbone or has a ounce of personal integrity?

They want to business people to stand up to the school board? They can't do it themselves?

Suggestion: Stand in front of the school with signs and protest until you get some answers.

Gee, they are only YOUR children

[Paul Atreides]

I can just imagine them all meeting and going with whatever sounded good without taking the time to figure out if it made sense.

[Mudboy Slim]

"The parents admit there’s no connection between the mall and the district. All they will say is they want to use their buying power as leverage."

Ignorance abounds...MUD

[jwh_Denver]

What a poorly written article. It gave us no facts about what the parents gripe is in detail. How can I judge this when I don't know the facts? Whatever the gripe is though I think this is a great idea. Parents have little or no power to change what is happening in public schools but when you bring in people that are losing money they have power. They will do whatever it takes to change the school to the parents desires. Model case. Smart.

[proxy_user]

It's a free country. You can protest any way you like. Heck, you can paint your arse green and walk on your hands, if you like.

I'm not suggesting anyone would actually do this...

[JZoback]

I can just imagine them all meeting and going with whatever sounded good without taking the time to figure out if it made sense.

Group think without the think.

I find it hard to believe they actually thought this would work.

Let's not do anything about our problem, lets make someone else do something about it for us.

[Cultural Jihad]

Attacking innocent bystanders in furtherance of political goals---isn't that terrorism?

Is the right of free association, or the use of a libertarian's Shun List, now considered to be an initiation of force?!

[StriperSniper]

It's a free country. You can protest any way you like. Heck, you can paint your arse green and walk on your hands, if you like. I'm not suggesting anyone would actually do this...

Why not? I'd pay to see that spectacle, even more if she had a nice arse!

[gcruse]

Who ever said free association couldn't lead to terrorism? And the malls are the guilty party here. Are you into omnibashing?