This is an ISBL Public Service Announcement [/sarcasm font]
Dear Black People,
If you don’t want to be arrested could you please stop doing things like driving, ordering coffee, having a picnic, taking a nap, or trying to open a bank account.
Sincerely, White Racists
Anthony Onyegbula wanted to open a new bank account, but instead found himself face-to-face with police after a bank worker called 911 because … wait for it … Onyegbula looked suspicious because he was wearing a hat. Oh, yeah, and he’s black, too, so maybe it was just the blackness.
Onyegbula was outside the United Community Bank in Georgia, speaking to his wife about opening an account there while a teller inside called 911 and said:
“He went to the front door and he’s been on his phone, and, I, um, called from my phone to tell the employees to lock the front door.”
They locked the doors at 2:15 though they close at 4:30 because … black man … in a hat … on a phone … outside. The teller then told 911:
“He’s been on his phone out front. And we have no cars in the parking lot. He’s a walker. So, I feel like he’s up to no good.”
Onyegbula and his wife left to go to another bank and that's when they realized police had been called; officers came into that bank, asked the manager to clear the room, and then spoke to Onyegbula.
Black man. Hat, Bank. Phone.
The regional president for United Community Bank sent Johnson a statement, that reads:
“For privacy reasons, we do not comment publicly about the details of any customer or potential customer transactions. However, providing excellent customer service is our top priority and we are disappointed that we didn’t deliver that to Drs. Onyegbula and Tedga in this case. This afternoon we were able to speak directly with Drs. Onyegbula and Tedga to personally apologize for the misunderstanding. We are glad for the opportunity to connect and improve, and hope to have an opportunity to earn their business in the future."
Good luck with that, unless you supply a sheet to people of color on how to dress and act, and to stay off their phones, and drive a car to the bank, so they don’t look like robbers.
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