Controversy arose after a group of Tougaloo students were ordered to leave Northpark Mall. Mall security told them to leave the mall after they passed out flyers to shoppers in the food court. Northpark Mall has a "no solicitation" policy. The professor leading the students complained she was unfairly harassed by security and Ridgeland police.
Mr. Banks called for a boycott of Northpark Mall after a group passing out flyers in the food court was told to leave by mall security.
WAPT posted a video with more thorough coverage.
Northpark Mall issued this statement:
Please know that we are a shopping center and community partner for everyone, and we are working our best to rectify the situation. Although saddened, I am pleased at the display of community involvement. Please feel free to contact me at info@northparkmall.com.
A security guard provided a version on Facebook that is unsurprisingly different from the one told by Mr. Banks.
Mr. Banks called this correspondent yesterday. He said he and the Tougaloo group understood the no soliciting policy. Their problem was not with the policy itself but how it was enforced. Apparently there was another group wearing the same shirts passing out flyers on a previous weekend. Mall security thought it was the same group and told the students to leave. Mall security apparently notified Ridgeland police. Mr. Banks disputed the security guard's Facebook post.
The Councilman said three Ridgeland police cruisers appeared at the mall. Several officers surrounded the vehicle containing the students and the professor.
Mr. Banks said he and Tougaloo representatives met with Northpark management to discuss the incident. He met with Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee as well. He said the conversations were very productive and he was standing down from his calls for a boycott.
Kingfish note: It's nice that Mr. Banks said he was de-escalating the controversy but he made a few inflammatory comments as well. He said ""Had this been white students wearing Confederate shirts that say 'Our Mississippi,' would mall management have done the same thing?" Uh-huh. He left out the combination of wearing said t-shirts and passing out flyers to shoppers. Such comments reek of the race-baiting one sees from some of his fellow councilman. One hopes he will retract those remarks as well. I'm pretty sure the NRA would be asked to leave if it started passing out flyers as well.
It appears that the incident stemmed from a belief, valid or mistaken, by mall staff that the same group of students was trying to violate the no-soliciting policy on two separate occasions. Such a policy is standard at most malls and private businesses.
One little observation about Northpark Mall. Some businesses abandoned East County Line Road. Other businesses were pilfered by their landlords who gave them real sweet deals to move to their new developments in the burbs. The owners of Northpark invested millions in renovations and are making a serious attempt to improve the area.
Northpark Mall also did not cost any taxpayer money. It didn't get Gozone bonds, a basket filled with TIF's, 30% tourism sales tax rebates, or other forms of taxpayer help, unlike certain other shopping centers in the Jackson area, right, Jimbo? It is all private money but between the social justice protestors and crony capitalists, such ventures can't seem to catch a break in Mississippi.
25 comments:
Espy still lost despite this faux outrage stunt. Maybe this group and Mr. Banks can do some art to bring to light the food swamps of Jackson. Maybe they could do installation art and grow tomatoes in the potholes.
Speaking of race baiting, is there any documentation of who actually placed the nooses at the State Capitol? Some social media suggests it was Democrats??
Looks like the big bad white officer was respectful to me.
When I first heard of this and Banks' reaction I realized that he just doesn't understand that if Northpark succeeds at reinvigorating that benefits both sides of County Line and, damn, the Jackson side needs all the help it can get.
Face it, Espy's surrogates ran the runoff campaign as one massive race card. Banks wanted in on the action. He's going to run for Mayor. Just watch.
I don't know how the officer could have been any nicer. She respected him and he respected her. Short conversation and she was on her way. Geezzz!
10:55, the social media posts I have seen suggest it was the work of white supremacists working with the Mississippi Republican Party. I guess we should leave it up to the police instead of guessing wildly and throwing out accusations without any evidence or reasoning?
Damn I wish they would boycott the malls where I plan to do my Christmas shopping.
@11:34 If you took the time to actually read the signs posted on the Capitol lawn next to the nooses it was pretty clear it was an anti Cindy Hyde Smith focused display intended to draw attention to past lynchings in MS.
I they could somehow boycott the mall out of business....it would mean hundreds of black folks losing their jobs. Another well thought out plan by a Jackson city "official". NOT
This is the pathetic jive that passes for "leadership" these days in the City of Jackson. Anything to focus attention away from the real work that needs to be done in the Black community, and blame someone else. The problems never get fixed and they get plenty of personal attention for doing nothing. Why not close the mall altogether, then they can have something else to complain about and then blame Pearl for their problems. That ought to get him elected mayor.
Isn't Banks the idiot that thinks a Nascar track is coming to South Jackson.
no thugs in hoodies acting out. Sounds great. Please protest.
Asking people to follow posted rules is not racist. End of drama. (It won't he the end if this drama.)
Banks and the Tougaloo professor are working on their civil rights resumes. You can't get your membership card unless you have "been in the struggle." Calling for a boycott or getting arrested at a protest are basic requirements. Induction ceremonies to follow.
To Councilman Banks, I'm a Jackson resident and one of your constituents. I sure wish you would focus on the ENORMOUS City of Jackson and Jackson Public School problems. Worry about the 16 police officers that resigned last month, get our streets fixed, our water bills fixed, we need to feel safe again or the JPS report showing the inept leadership. Pick your fights carefully. You don't have a DOG in the RACE. Focus on the job we hired you to do or resign. You seem like a very smart young man, show some leadership instead of grand-standing. Sorry if I pissed some of you off. Let’s clean up around our own house before we move to North Park.
I look at these comments and I forget most of y'all aren't even in Jackson. Nobody is taking Aaron Banks seriously. That stuff is stupid. Lol I have no idea why y'all are even giving this attention.
very irresponsible and flat out STUPID of the councilman. As a resident of Jackson, what we have allowed Jackson's side of County Line to become is unacceptable, and the city should be holding the developers feet to the fire. The old Grady's restaurant location has become and absolute disgrace, and I can't help but wonder if anything there, or the recently "renovated" mexican restaurants is up to code, or has ever been inspected by our building department. City of Jackson does not have a plan, and shows no understanding that zoning, and proper ordinances help protect business, and create business......as long as they are enforced. My opinion, all of Jackson suburbia needs to start calling out, relentlessly, the ineptitudes of the Jackson City Council. Sooner or later, Jackson's decline is going to start negatively impaction surrounding suburbia.
Just like the Mall's no carry policy they have a no solicitation policy too.
If the mall is a GFZ (gun free zone), then they will never get my business. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws have them.
For you morons who don't get it, shooting someone is already illegal, so do you peabrains really believe that a GFZ sign will stop them?
Lock and load.
I was in this mall the day after Banks made this ridiculous statement. I noticed that probably 90% of the employees there are black. Is Banks proposing to put them out of a job?
Theca Jones - You are a damned genius if you can read a post and figure out where somebody lives. More of your racist bullshit attempting to claim Madison and Rankin folk are speaking unkindly of Hinds.
I agree with the poster who is begging for a boycott. Maybe a boycott by 'the community' will result in restoration of thousands walking the mall. In fact, that's about the only thing that will save the mall.
In response to this, I am boycotting Jackson water
I'm so sick of this phoney mama's boy councilman always getting his panties in a wad about a group breaking policy on private property. Hey I live in NE Jackson and I can assure you that your South Jackson voters need you to focus on them rather than people breaking rules that are more than obvious. Stop being a d!ckwad and sort out your own ward first creampuff. Your a camera hog no pun intended
Get an enhanced permit, just ignore the sign. If they spot the gun all they can do is ask you to leave.
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