In St. Louis, Missouri, the management of a Family Dollar has found themselves in the public spotlight after posting a sign that makes one small request of their customers before entering the store. The sign sparked a firestorm with cries of racism and discrimination that eventually led to the sign being removed.

Family Dollar is a chain of discount variety stores with 8,100 stores in several states across the country. Most of the stores are located in low-income neighborhoods. (Photo Credit: Screenshot)
With crime increasing around the St. Louis area, local businesses can’t be too safe when it comes to protecting their business. This may be what prompted the management of a Family Dollar to request that people entering their store remove their hoods, which could conceal someone’s identity. However, some were quick to claim that the sign was racist.

The sign read, “All Customers: Please remove hoods before entering Family Dollar.” For the objective and unbiased thinker, the reasoning behind the sign makes perfect sense. It ensures that everyone who enters the store is intent on following the rules, knowing that the cameras can get a clear shot of their face, according to The Daily Caller.

“All Customers: Please remove hoods before entering Family Dollar.” (Photo Credit: Screenshot)
Kusloshiai Webb, a St. Louis resident, agreed with the sign, explaining, “They want people’s faces to be seen by the cameras and sometimes when you have on a hood, it might block your facial view.” Judy Cardona, a Family Dollar customer, echoed Webb’s sentiment, saying, “It gives you more picture of the person.”

Frequent and recent robberies took place at the chain store’s nearby locations. So, you can understand why they would have put up such a sign. In the weeks before the sign was placed in the store window, a clerk at the Family Dollar on South Jefferson was held at gunpoint during an alleged robbery. During a separate incident at Family Dollar’s South Grand location, a man opened fire.

This guy with his hood up had no issue with the sign. (Photo Credit: Screenshot)
However, not everyone felt the sign was a reasonable security request because of the sign’s “discriminatory undertone.” When asked his thoughts on the sign, customer Roger Williams explained, “I would call it discrimination. That’s not right. It shouldn’t matter that you’re going in there with your hood on. If you’re not stealing, and you’re buying, purchasing something, what’s the problem? That shouldn’t be an issue.”

Family Dollar headquarters responded to the matter, saying they were unaware of any signs. Public & Media Relations Manager Bryn R. Winburn of Family Dollar said, “It is not Company policy to ask our customers to remove hoods or sweatshirts before entering our stores.” The retail chain has also launched an “internal investigation” into the matter. The store removed the sign on account of the public outrage.

The sign applies to everyone. If you believe the sign to be discriminatory, then you must assume that only one race of people walks in the cold with their hoods up. Perhaps there is one race that is more likely to wear hoods, but the rule applies to everyone regardless of their race, religion, or anything else.

What do you think? Is the sign racist or discriminatory? Is it well within the store’s rights to request such a thing or do we all have the right to do as we please? The best thing to do when a business does something that you don’t like is to take your money elsewhere.