Thank you for your care and concern, I know, I'm putting my neck out there. No one knows who is boycotting, only those who are requesting the boycott are noticeably "out there".... that would be me and those of you who choose to picket. However, my head is screwed on well, I'm using extreme caution and making every effort to be clear.
If you are not seeing much of what I'm bringing to attention, it very well may be your "patch", as these instances are most common, but not exclusive to, retail markets that cater to inner city and suburban communities. It is less obvious in rural markets.
Few Instances witnessed:
~Mother is waiting in shopping line and offers child a bag of chips. Child eats them but the line is long and parent is getting frustrated at the condition. Child then goes to reach out to mother and mother smacks the child in the face so hard that the food flies out of the child's mouth and into the aisle next to them. Child cries looking around at other, while mother stands by nudging the child saying, "shut up" till she finally ignores the cries all together.
~Grandmother is so tired of telling the boys to settle down in the store she uses cart and forcefully runs it into back of child and child cries out grabbing ankles.
~Mother was on the phone and child was seeking attention. Mother used phone to hit the child repeatedly on the arm shouting, "Didn't I tell you to shut the F*** up?"
Many times these things happen right before our eyes, but we are preoccupied with our personal lives or have been desensitized to it. These displays are traditionally loud and obnoxious. My son witnessed a security guard eating while watching a child at risk in the store. He was so disturbed by it that he brought it to my attention at home.
I intend on doing some undercover filming and broadcasting it on YouTube so that people who are not in high risk areas, can see what is happening. You might try going to an inner city Wal-Mart just for observation. I did not choose select Wal-Marts because then we are sending a message that only inner city and suburban communities care about this issue. They need to see people who care everywhere.
The Cereal aisle was chosen because it is an aisle that is marketed to the whole family, but especially to children. The loss of revenue in this aisle would have Kellogs, General Mills and others apply the needed pressure on Wal-Mart if they do not move in favor of a mandate.... and listen, they want their money and no interruption in it's flow. Most of the products on that aisle are owned by just few companies compared to other aisles. This adds to the economic pressure of the supplier.
I know that I am pointing out a conglomerate, but had I chosen Kroger, it would not have the success it needs because they follow suit with what Wal-Mart does and if Wal-Mart doesn't do it... they see no reason why they should. Like I said, I love Wal-Mart, but for the sake of the children, we need them to step in and be leaders with on site child violence prevention.
As per people running around aimlessly accusing people of things that are not actually happening, while that is understandable, that happens all the time even without this boycott. We are not asking for shoppers to be the one to do any direct intervention, we are asking the hired security forces to be instructed to take action. The thing is, the hired security forces will not do it unless they are mandated to do so. Wal-Mart needs to make it a part of their job.
Is it the parents responsibility? Yes, absolutely. Is it only their responsibility, no. Recently, a man viciously beat his child in public and when the police repeatedly asked him to get off the child, he refused and the officers shot and killed the man. The officers intervened because it is their job to protect and serve, it is their responsibility. The safety of children, by law, is a shared responsibility.
Like I had mentioned about the smoking law. Children didn't ask for second hand smoke, (not so long ago) but after the bans came into effect for public smoking, children were not subject to second hand smoke in public. Many people even stopped smoking in their cars or in their homes because it has become socially unacceptable, especially around children. Now, lots of people haven't yet... but tons of people have, and that makes a difference in the health and welfare of families. Just as it was the job of security to ensure people did not smoke on site with the whole, "Mam, we don't allow smoking in the store; if you need to smoke please step outside"... people were angry and disturbed then too, but they got over it and our public air is more breathable.
Once upon a time, people were ashamed to strike a child in public, they would goto the public restrooms to do it. People don't care now so anywhere will do. Is it an inconvenience to wait to "spank" your child at home, Yes, is it an inconvenience to wait to smoke outside, Yes, is it safer and health wise to do so? Yes. People have proven they have the ability to practice public discipline... especially when we make the alternative option unacceptable.
I understand that these methods are difficult to accept but if there is a chance to make an impacting difference here, I've got to try. Think of what the success of this will mean for children and families nation wide. Is it difficult? Risky? Yes. Impossible? No.
Love and light...
Ms. Rachel E. Milano
Activist