Wal-Mart Implements New Measures for Black Friday After Being Wrongfully Blamed for the Actions of Greedy Shoppers

This Thanksgiving, Wal-Mart will employ new measures to ensure the safety of eager and reckless shoppers. In addition to keeping their doors open during the holiday, Wal-Mart will allow shoppers to gather in various sections of the store to reduce crowd sizes. Wal-Mart will also stock high-demand items throughout the store in an attempt to spread out shoppers and further reduce the risk of overzealous crowds. It seems that the traditional method of simply allowing customers to wait in line is no longer an option for the superstore.

Last year, a Wal-Mart employee Jdimytai Damour was trampled to death by greedy and reckless shoppers who were too busy trying to get to the hottest toy to stop and help a man up. Dozens of shoppers barreled past the man as he lay dying on the floor. Though police and crowd control methods had been implemented, once Wal-Mart opened its doors and customers began cutting one another, no one could stop the hell bent crowd determined to get in the store by any means, even if it resulted in the death of an innocent man. When the dust cleared and everyone realized that the tragedy had occurred, naturally a lawsuit ensued. Shockingly, the lawsuit wasn't directed at the 200 or so shoppers for their homicidal and reckless behavior. Instead, since trying to identify the customers directly responsible for Damour's death was impossible, lawyers and the victim's family naturally set their sights on Wal-Mart.

Though Wal-Mart had added extra staffers, outside security workers and barricades to prepare for such an event, and consulted with local police to ensure that they had adequate coverage, they were accused of not having adequate crowd control. What does this tell us about the American shopper and the way Americans view responsibility in general? When we as a society decide that instead of prosecuting the uncivilized few who are responsible for the tragedy, we would rather prosecute the corporation that we know can easily pay up, justice is lost. We've also allowed a mob to get away with homicide. In this instance, like many, Wal-Mart wasn't the bad guy; the customers were. But since we couldn't stick it to the customers, we decided to stick it to the corporation, simply because of our perverted need for retribution, regardless if it's justified or not.

Why do we blame those who don't implement crowd control measures versus the unruly crowd who doesn't implement civility? It's much easier to simply blame Wal-Mart than it is to ask people to respect one another. We're not animals. It shouldn't be Wal-Mart's job to ensure that we don't act like them.

Ironically, this Thanksgiving Wal-Mart is providing a Thanksgiving meal for eight for $20. Because of Wal-Mart's commitment to providing low prices, millions of low to middle-income families will feast this holiday season.

Sources:

Wal-Mart Amps Up Hours, Crowd Control for Black Friday, Tom Johansmeyer, 12 Nov 2009

Associated Press, Hearing Held in Wal-Mart Trampling Death, Police Say Prosecution Unlikely, December 11, 2008

Daily News, Wal-Mart to Avoid Criminal Charges; Family Not Happy