Racism at Southlake Mall (Merrillville, Indiana)

Rhonda Steward is an A student. All who know her are proud of the wonderful, energetic, and strong young lady she has become. She is active in her church and a among the top students in Upward Bound at Purdue Calumet- a college preparatory program. Her teachers know her to be bright, caring, and intelligent- a great student and an incredible person. Sadly, when mall security saw her shopping with friends and family - they saw only a Black girl and assumed that she was the opposite of everything we know her to be.




Rhonda was not anticipating that she would be facing criminal charges when she entered the mall to spend a fun afternoon with her mom, nephews, and a few of their friends. She was likely anticipating the new treasures she'd come home with and deciding what would be her stop at the Food Court. That all changed when she stopped to talk for a bit by the second floor balcony and was told by security that, although there were a group of White teens right beside her, she and her friends could not remain there to talk- they were to "keep it moving".




Rhonda and her friends obliged, though they didn't understand why, and continued to try to enjoy their shopping trip. They stopped by a few more stores then decided to find her nephew, his friends, and her mom to head home. Once she found her nephew, the entire group was surrounded by police- herded like cattle. They were scolded "YOU WERE ALREADY TOLD YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE. YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO COME WITH ME NOW".




The officer grabbed Rhonda, informed her she was being charged with criminal trespassing, and tried to shove her down a dark, isolated, unfamiliar hallway with a closed door at the end. Rhonda looked at the brick walls, the strange doorway, and refused to go anywhere without her mother, and she requested they find her. Her request was denied, and they proceeded to try to force Rhonda into the hallway. Rhonda continued to resist, afraid of what might happen to a young girl behind a closed door with an angry officer, and she was then handcuffed and charged with disorderly conduct.

Let's be clear. There was NO CHARGE of any real offense- shoplifting or anything of the sort. There was no charge of ANYTHING REAL- they were accused of CRIMINAL TRESPASSING for doing what is done at the mall- shopping and talking- and being Black in a "White" mall.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Rhonda
• Steward
• racism
• security
• Southlake
• Mall

[washingtonhatchets1]

Why do Niggas think that people are being racisct just by saying something to the and y ar there white people in that protest?

[dsthumpriii]

i wish there were more security like that in southlake mall still and mayb it would still b a nice place to shop... they should stick to nigger oaks in calumet city

[whiteyinthehood1]

cmon ya know what all the shit years ago is over get a life. everything is a race issue to u fat pigs. Maybe just maybe your child is a fucken idiot

[SK8SQWIRL]

Niggers

[Dezrockz1]

uuuuuuhhhhhhh........... that's the mall i go to :I its fine when i go its perfectly fine :P

[fullyflared27]

it's not a race issue. the security at south lake mall are just assholes. everyone is so quick to play the race card. makes me sick.

[stevencortez444]

The must of been acting crazy to get charged with something at the mall.

[germaniajim6]

no such thing as a smart black person or an innocent one, Look at all the jews and niggers , of course we all know these same protestors are the ones selling dope and robbing cars , What a travesty of double standards, here, Lock em all up and throw away the key.

[streaty3o27]

@caddyswangin0057 how about you walk up to a black person and say something like u said on these comments and check back on us (if u still have fingers)

[plynnc56]

@caddyswangin0057 you are so ignorant and hypocritical its not even funny, so i went to your channel and you have lots of vids of black people on there, you are the real N. shut up, grow up and stop polluting the world with your garbage.