POLICE BEGAN A RACE HATE CRIME INVESTIGATION RECENTLY AFTER AN ANNOUNCEMENT WAS BROADCAST AT A WAL-MART SUPERSTORE IN NEW JERSEY ORDERING 'BLACK PEOPLE' TO GET OUT. A MAN'S VOICE WAS HEARD CALMLY SAYING OVER THE PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM: 'ATTENTION WAL-MART CUSTOMERS, ALL BLACK PEOPLE LEAVE THE STORE NOW'. THE UNUSUAL DEMAND CAUSED AN OUTCRY AMONG SHOPPERS AT THE STORE IN WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. OFFICIALS AT WAL-MART, WHICH IS AMERICA'S LARGEST STORE CHAIN, WERE REVIEWING SECURITY TAPES TRYING TO DISCOVER WHO HIJACKED THE INTERCOM TO MAKE THE OFFENSIVE MESSAGE. DETECTIVES WHO ARE INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT BELIEVE A RACIST EMPLOYEE MAY BE RESPONSIBLE. WITNESSES TOLD THE COURIER-POST NEWSPAPER THAT CUSTOMERS AND STORE EMPLOYEES LOOKED STUNNED AND SHOCKED. MANAGEMENT LATER APOLOGIZED. A COMPANY SPOKESPERSON SAID THAT THE INCIDENT WAS 'UNACCEPTABLE', AND WILL BE LOOKING AT WAYS TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND THE GLOUCESTER PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE ALSO ARE INVESTIGATING. WAL-MART OFFICIALLY APOLOGIZED FOR THE 'UNACCEPTABLE' INCIDENT, BUT SHOPPER SHEILA ELLINGTON, WHO WAS IN THE STORE WHEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS AIRED, HAS VOWED SHE WILL NEVER RETURN. 'IN 2010, I WANT TO KNOW WHY SUCH STATEMENTS ARE BEING MADE. IT FLIES IN THE FACE OF WHAT WE TEACH OUR KIDS, AND THAT'S TOLERANCE', SHE SAID.
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