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Dairy Queen Franchise Shut Down; Racism Is Bad for Business
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Topic Started: Jan 9 2017, 01:37 PM (525 Views)
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Doctor Magnus Warlock
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Jan 9 2017, 01:37 PM
Post #1
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A Dairy Queen owner unleashed a racist tirade against a customer. He no longer has a business.By Cleve R. Wootson Jr. January 9 at 6:10 AM The Dairy Queen owner shouting the n-word at Deianeira Ford told her he could say whatever he wanted at his fast-food restaurant — that any accusations and complaints she uttered would fall on deaf ears.Ford was vindicated two days later, when her Facebook post about the incident provoked outrage so strong that the Dairy Queen in Zion, Ill., didn’t open for business. But her victory was tempered by something even more troubling that she heard at a protest: Although she was the most vocal victim of the owner’s racism, she was not the first.On Wednesday, Ford had taken her two children to visit their grandmother — and, because they were well-behaved, she stopped by the Dairy Queen on the way home. She ordered a $5 box, but part of the order was wrong, and another part was missing.
So she asked the owner to fix the order, and when he balked, she asked for a refund. That’s when things spiraled.The owner, James “Jim” Crichton, returned her $5, but gave her a mouthful, according to Ford and the police in Zion, 50 miles north of Chicago. “He called me and my children n—–; he said I can go back to where I came from,” Ford told The Washington Post. “He took out his flip phone and he said he would take a picture and put it on Facebook because he wants to show the world what kind of n—— he has to deal with. Then he shut the window and walked away.”But the worst came a few moments later, from the back seat, where her two children were sitting, Ford said.“My daughter is 3. She’s a little sponge; she repeats everything,” said Ford, 21, who is biracial. “She asked me: ‘Mommy, we n——?’ ” Crying and shaking, Ford dialed 911. An officer found her sitting in the parking lot in tears. She told him what happened, and he went to talk to Crichton, the DQ owner.
The officer later detailed what Crichton told him in a police report.He said Crichton was angry. He was shaking and pacing the floor. But he did not deny what Ford had said: “Crichton boastfully told me he would be happy to go to jail over the issue and proudly admitted to calling Ford a n——. He added that he is ‘fed up with black people,’ ” and described an incident in which two “of them” were in his restaurant squirting ketchup all over the floor, according to the officer’s report. “During the course of my conversation with Crichton, he used the word ‘n—–‘ freely to describe black people,” the officer continued. Still, there was little police could do.In a statement, Zion Police Chief Steve Dumyahn told The Post that “while this alleged activity is deplorable, it is not criminal.” So Ford took to Facebook.She wrote a post describing what had happened. She described how she had asked for the owner’s name after recovering from her shock so she could report him to Dairy Queen’s corporate office. He replied “Bill Clinton then said better yet I’m Donald Trump,” Ford posted. She included the phone number and address of the Dairy Queen. She also called Dairy Queen’s corporate headquarters.
A few hours after she wrote the post, it had been shared by several thousand people. Some called the restaurant. One man went by Crichton’s store, sparking another call to police. At some point, the post was seen by the people at Dairy Queen’s corporate office.On Thursday, the company released a statement saying Crichton’s actions “are inexcusable, reprehensible and unacceptable. We do not in any way condone his behavior or language.”Dairy Queen also released a statement from Crichton, which said he and his employees would undergo sensitivity training.“I would like to sincerely and humbly apologize for my recent words and actions,” his statement said. “I have let my family, friends, employees, our system and this community down with what I have done.” But it was too late. On Friday, Dairy Queen announced that it was closing the location in Zion, Ill., and that it was terminating Crichton’s franchise rights.Crichton could not be reached for comment on Sunday. A Saturday protest organized by local activists and Black Lives Matter demonstrators turned into a celebration of sorts.Ford’s attorney, Renea Amen, told The Post that revoking the franchise license was a good first step. “I didn’t want my clients to walk away with just a letter of apology,” she said. Dairy Queen and Crichton “received money from this community. I think those days are gone where businesses and business owners can mistreat people and just say ‘I’m sorry.’ ”Legal action is still possible against Dairy Queen, Amen said, especially because other patrons — and even employees of the restaurant — have described racist comments and discriminatory mistreatment. She’s meeting with some of them Monday, so see if there is a pattern that Dairy Queen was made aware of.Ford said she was happy about the outpouring of support from community members who showed up in the blistering cold at what used to be her favorite restaurant. But Ford said she’s still struggling to explain racism to a 3-year-old who doesn’t fully understand what happened.“She kind of still brings it up — that’s just how she is. She said, ‘Why did that mean man say that to me?’ ”
“I [told her] some people are just mean. Some people don’t have good hearts.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/01/09/a-dairy-queen-owner-unleashed-a-racist-tirade-against-a-customer-he-no-longer-has-a-business/?utm_term=.1aa5fc432536
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Doctor Magnus Warlock
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Jan 9 2017, 01:43 PM
Post #2
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Dairy Queen ending franchise agreement with Zion store after racial slur incidentBy Frank S. AbderholdenContact Reporter News-Sun Dairy Queen has ended its corporate franchise agreement with a Zion store owner amid fallout from a racially charged dispute over an order that sparked calls for a boycott of the fast-food restaurant chain known for its Blizzard frozen desserts.On Friday, the terms of the franchise agreement termination were agreed to and are effective immediately, said Dairy Queen spokesman Dean Peters. The restaurant will remain closed and will not reopen as a Dairy Queen unless ownership changes at that location, Peters said. "The recent actions of this franchisee are inexcusable, reprehensible, unacceptable and do not represent the values of the Dairy Queen family, our employees, fans and other independent franchises around the world," the corporate statement said. "We expect our franchisees and their employees to treat every single person who walks through their doors with the utmost dignity and respect. Nothing less is acceptable."Dairy Queen's announcement came just hours after store owner James Crichton of Lake Villa, who is white, apologized and asked for forgiveness after an incident in which he was accused of hurling racial slurs at a biracial woman in front of her young children after she complained about her order. "I take full responsibility of my actions," Crichton said in a statement Peters released earlier Friday. "As the owner of this restaurant, I should be a model for others. My actions were inexcusable and unacceptable."Crichton did not immediately return calls seeking comment Friday night after Dairy Queen's announcement to terminate the franchise agreement. Clyde McLemore, head of the Lake County Black Lives Matter, said his group turned plans to hold a protest outside the store Saturday into a "celebration" of its closure.
"This satisfies Black Lives Matter," McLemore said.Deianeira Ford, 21, of Tinley Park, said the incident happened Wednesday after the store on 21st Street west of Sheridan Road in Zion mishandled her order and she asked for a refund.On Facebook, Ford wrote that at one point her daughter asked what the racial slur meant. Her post also said that when she asked the owner his name, he first said it was "'Bill Clinton' and then said, 'Better yet, I'm Donald Trump,' and told me to go back where I came from." Her story was subsequently backed in a report filed by a Zion police officer who responded to a 911 call from Ford. In that report released Thursday, the officer wrote that the store owner "proudly admitted" to using a racial slur, but the restaurant owner later denied saying anything racial when the same officer returned later the same day in response to a separate call.Ford, who recently worked as a dispatcher at the south suburban Harvey police department and is a full-time college student, said the racial slurs hurled at her and her children were hurtful. Ford said she and her children are relocating to Zion. "I was kind of just like dumbstruck," she said Friday. Lashonda Renea Amen, an attorney for Ford, said later Friday that her client is "very happy and pleased with the outcome." Amen said she appreciated Dairy Queen's "willingness to work with us."Crichton initially had disputed Ford's account when contacted by the News-Sun on Thursday, saying, "It's 99 percent lies. This is blown so far out of proportion it's stupid." On Friday, Crichton's apology did not specifically mention Ford, stating that, "What I said was not appropriate and is something I cannot take back. I have no excuse. I can only ask for forgiveness and try to make it up to all involved."Zion Mayor Al Hill minced no words about the situation during an interview in his office Friday afternoon."It's embarrassing for the city," Hill said. "It doesn't reflect our community. It gives us a black eye, it's very unfortunate. In 2017, you wouldn't think we would have to deal with these types of things."He acknowledged the city does have racial issues. "We all generally get along around here," Hill said. "On the whole, we are a very diverse community — it may be a cliche, but I truly believe it. If you have a diverse community, you are going to have differences." Daily Southtown freelance reporter Dennis Sullivan contributed. fabderholden@tribpub.com Twitter @ abderholden Copyright © 2017, Lake County News-Sun
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-lns-dairy-queen-racial-slurs-zion-st-0107-20170106-story,amp.html
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Doctor Magnus Warlock
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Jan 9 2017, 01:50 PM
Post #3
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Watch: Dairy Queen Franchise Owner Calls Mother And Children 'N*****s' After They Asked For A Refund He was caught bragging to police about his disgusting tirade.
Donald Trump’s election to the presidency is apparently giving license to people all across the country to express their racist feelings. And while you are entitled to your opinion and First Amendment right, you’re also entitled to face the consequences of that opinion.
That’s the case of a Dairy Queen franchise owner who let his bigotry get the better of him. A woman in Zion, Illinois recently went to a Dairy Queen in the city with her children. According to her, when she ordered her food and didn’t receive everything, she went back to the restaurant to get a $5 refund.
The simple request apparently sparked up owner James Crichton. He in-turn called 21-year-old Deianeira Ford and her children “n*****s” and other racial slurs. This then reportedly caused Ford’s three-year-old daughter to ask what the word meant.
Ford would later ask for the franchise owner’s name. First he told her it was “Bill Clinton” and then he supposedly said it was “Donald Trump.” Then he told Ford to go back from where she came from. A police officer would arrive on scene and confirm the series of events strangely because Crichton boasted that he made such terrible remarks.
“(Crichton) boastfully told me he would be happy to go to jail over the issue and proudly admitted to calling Ford a slur,” the officer relayed in his report. “He added that he was ‘fed up with black people.’” The report also states that Crichton used racial slurs freely in describing African Americans.
Crichton’s stupidity didn’t end there. A Black Lives Matter protester later showed up to the Dairy Queen franchise to confront Crichton about his remarks. The owner then called the police and the same officer responded to the scene. Crichton claimed that “nothing racial took place” in the earlier hours even though he previously told the same officer it did.
“He did not recognize me as the officer who spoke to him this morning and I reminded him that he already admitted to me what he did,” the officer wrote. “He continued to contradict his story about this morning to me several more times and was becoming angered that I did not believe him.”
*Facepalm.*
James Crichton later told the Lake County News-Sun that the whole thing was “99 percent lies” and “blown out of proportion.”
The Zion community has since rallied around Ford. Both the police chief and mayor have reached out. Chief Stephen Dumyahn said he was “disgusted and discouraged” by Crichton's comments.
Dairy Queen also issued a statement and plans on stripping Crichton’s franchise license. “We do not in any way condone his behavior or language. It is not what our brand stands for and is not representative of a DQ or its franchisee community,” it read. “The actions of this franchisee are inexcusable, reprehensible and unacceptable.”
Written by Paul Meara
http://www.bet.com/news/national/2017/01/08/watch--dairy-queen-franchise-owner-calls-mother-and-children--n-.html
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Doctor Magnus Warlock
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Jan 9 2017, 01:51 PM
Post #4
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James Crichton...you are a moron!!!
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Doctor Magnus Warlock
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Jan 9 2017, 01:57 PM
Post #5
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He actually deserves a black eye for his treatment of the young mother, and the two small children.
But hey, the best way to hurt a racist is through their pocket books.
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Zechariah
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Jan 9 2017, 10:12 PM
Post #6
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Zechariah
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- Doctor Magnus Warlock
- Jan 9 2017, 01:57 PM
He actually deserves a black eye for his treatment of the young mother, and the two small children.
But hey, the best way to hurt a racist is through their pocket books. You are right yet again, Doc.
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U Thant
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Jan 10 2017, 12:52 AM
Post #7
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- Doctor Magnus Warlock
- Jan 9 2017, 01:51 PM
James Crichton...you are a moron for mistreating lightskinned-Blacks!
You'd better get in line with my, mantra, of mainly attacking dark-skinned like a staunch racist cop that I am!!!
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Doctor Magnus Warlock
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Jan 10 2017, 11:08 AM
Post #8
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- Zechariah
- Jan 9 2017, 10:12 PM
- Doctor Magnus Warlock
- Jan 9 2017, 01:57 PM
He actually deserves a black eye for his treatment of the young mother, and the two small children.
But hey, the best way to hurt a racist is through their pocket books.
You are right yet again, Doc. Racism is institutional. Most institutions are designed to earn a profit.
Cut off the cash flow for racists, and you cut off a significant means for them to flex.
Crichton thought he was untouchable because he ran a franchise.
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Doctor Magnus Warlock
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Jan 10 2017, 11:10 AM
Post #9
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I liked how the young lady stood up for herself. This is a great lesson her children will learn when dealing unsavory people in life.
I also liked how the online & local community rallied behind her.
BLM & the police played a part in this, imagine that!
I applaud the response of Dairy Queen.
Good people normally come together when evil is afoot.
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Doctor Magnus Warlock
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Jan 10 2017, 11:21 AM
Post #10
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- Ethos Logos Pathos
- Jan 10 2017, 12:52 AM
- Doctor Magnus Warlock
- Jan 9 2017, 01:51 PM
James Crichton...you are a moron for mistreating lightskinned-Blacks!
You'd better get in line with my, mantra, of mainly attacking dark-skinned like a staunch racist cop that I am!!!
At 21, Deianeira Ford showed more conviction in fighting racism racism than you.
She seems more effective with fighting racism than you.
- emotions' SOLE controller
- Mar 17 2015, 11:57 AM
[P]lease use your life to finally go fight for something and go stand up for something ---other than your paycheck--- then you will learn the most efficient and most proficient ways to navigate through a system.
She chose not to be a victim of the "real" America.
- The SOLE Controller
- Jan 10 2014, 12:32 AM
I am a victim of the real America....
She did not need two degrees to score a major win over racism.
- emotions' SOLE controller
- Feb 5 2015, 09:25 PM
I grad college with 2 degrees...I still admit racism exists, then I identify it, then I go fight it.
You are nearly twice her age, yet she can teach you how to be more effective in regards to fighting racism.
- emotions' SOLE controller
- Feb 27 2015, 06:15 AM
- Doctor Saul Santiago
- Feb 15 2015, 03:24 PM
... a 40+ year male
thanks for giving props to my maturity level, but I still got 2-3 more years to go before reaching that age...lol...
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