Heather and her cousin went to separate lines and when her cousin found the shorter line, Heather joined him. Ellis was then accused of cutting line by the person checking out customers, which led to an altercation. When Ellis was asked to leave the store, she argued with the managers, which led to the police being called. Ellis was eventually charged with disturbing the peace, resisting arrest and two counts of assaulting a police officer.
Ellis, a college student on her way to medical school, argues that the charges were not appropriate, particularly since she doesn't have a history of this kind of behavior. She now faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Ellis has publicly protested the DA's decision to push the case forward, which has led to her receiving threats from the Ku Klux Klan. The African American community is working to help Heather now, as a website has been set up for an online protest and petition fighting to support Heather's case.
The question here, from a business standpoint is whether or not Walmart could have done something to avoid this situation. Some people think so.
KKK on the Rise
FILE - In this March 27, 2008, Tennessee head coach Bruce Pearl reacts during the second half of an NCAA East Regional basketball semifinal against Louisville in Charlotte, N.C. Pearl apologized on Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, for a joking remark that linked the rural home of one his players to the Ku Klux Klan. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
AP
PULASKI, TN - JULY 11: Members of the Fraternal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan participate in the 11th Annual Nathan Bedford Forrest Birthday march July 11, 2009 in Pulaski, Tennessee. With a poor economy and the first African-American president in office, there has been a rise in extremist activity in many parts of America. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center in 2008 the number of hate groups rose to 926, up 4 percent from 2007, and 54 percent since 2000. Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War and played a role in the postwar establishment of the first Ku Klux Klan organization opposing the reconstruction era in the South. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Getty Images
PULASKI, TN - JULY 11: A female member of the Ku Klux Klan holds her daughter before participating in the 11th Annual Nathan Bedford Forrest Birthday march July 11, 2009 in Pulaski, Tennessee. With a poor economy and the first African-American president in office, there has been a rise in extremist activity in many parts of America. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center in 2008 the number of hate groups rose to 926, up 4 percent from 2007, and 54 percent since 2000. Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War and played a role in the postwar establishment of the first Ku Klux Klan organization opposing the reconstruction era in the South. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Getty Images
PULASKI, TN - JULY 11: Members of the Fraternal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan participate in the 11th Annual Nathan Bedford Forrest Birthday march July 11, 2009 in Pulaski, Tennessee. With a poor economy and the first African-American president in office, there has been a rise in extremist activity in many parts of America. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center in 2008 the number of hate groups rose to 926, up 4 percent from 2007, and 54 percent since 2000. Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War and played a role in the postwar establishment of the first Ku Klux Klan organization opposing the reconstruction era in the South. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Getty Images
PULASKI, TN - JULY 11: A bumper sticker displays support for the confederate south at the 11th Annual Nathan Bedford Forrest Birthday held by the Fraternal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan July 11, 2009 in Pulaski, Tennessee. With a poor economy and the first African-American president in office, there has been a rise in extremist activity in many parts of America. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center in 2008 the number of hate groups rose to 926, up 4 percent from 2007, and 54 percent since 2000. Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War and played a role in the postwar establishment of the first Ku Klux Klan organization opposing the reconstruction era in the South. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Getty Images
PULASKI, TN - JULY 11: Members of the Fraternal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan participate in the 11th Annual Nathan Bedford Forrest Birthday march July 11, 2009 in Pulaski, Tennessee. With a poor economy and the first African-American president in office, there has been a rise in extremist activity in many parts of America. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center in 2008 the number of hate groups rose to 926, up 4 percent from 2007, and 54 percent since 2000. Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War and played a role in the postwar establishment of the first Ku Klux Klan organization opposing the reconstruction era in the South. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Getty Images
PULASKI, TN - JULY 11: A cross is seen on the hand of a member of the Fraternal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, while participating in the 11th Annual Nathan Bedford Forrest Birthday march July 11, 2009 in Pulaski, Tennessee. With a poor economy and the first African-American president in office, there has been a rise in extremist activity in many parts of America. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center in 2008 the number of hate groups rose to 926, up 4 percent from 2007, and 54 percent since 2000.
Getty Images
PULASKI, TN - JULY 11: Members of the Fraternal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan participate in the 11th Annual Nathan Bedford Forrest Birthday march July 11, 2009 in Pulaski, Tennessee. With a poor economy and the first African-American president in office, there has been a rise in extremist activity in many parts of America. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center in 2008 the number of hate groups rose to 926, up 4 percent from 2007, and 54 percent since 2000. Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War and played a role in the postwar establishment of the first Ku Klux Klan organization opposing the reconstruction era in the South. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Getty Images
PULASKI, TN - JULY 11: A member of the Fraternal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan participates in the 11th Annual Nathan Bedford Forrest Birthday march July 11, 2009 in Pulaski, Tennessee. With a poor economy and the first African-American president in office, there has been a rise in extremist activity in many parts of America. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center in 2008 the number of hate groups rose to 926, up 4 percent from 2007, and 54 percent since 2000. Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War and played a role in the postwar establishment of the first Ku Klux Klan organization opposing the reconstruction era in the South. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Getty Images
PULASKI, TN - JULY 11: Female members of the Fraternal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan prepare their robes before participating in the 11th Annual Nathan Bedford Forrest Birthday march July 11, 2009 in Pulaski, Tennessee. With a poor economy and the first African-American president in office, there has been a rise in extremist activity in many parts of America. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center in 2008 the number of hate groups rose to 926, up 4 percent from 2007, and 54 percent since 2000. Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War and played a role in the postwar establishment of the first Ku Klux Klan organization opposing the reconstruction era in the South. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Dr. Towanna Freeman, a management consultant, argues that Walmart could have avoided the entire problem by paying greater attention to customer service.
"Regardless of a person's ethnicity, gender, or sexual preference, this case started when the cashier failed to convey at least one of the core beliefs and values of Sam Walton: 'Customers are the reason we're in business, so we should treat them that way'," says Dr. Freeman. "With that said, the cashier could have easily interjected and calmed the angry crowd by saying something like, 'Excuse me, although we don't promote cutting lines, please allow me to assist this customer now. This will only take a few minutes. Thank you, for your patience.'"
The case for Heather Ellis is heating up. I've made some calls around the country and it appears that the case might finally get the attention it deserves. Also, the Your Black World Coalition is going to get involved, along with the National Action Network, to ensure that this young lady's case is carefully analyzed. The bottom line, however, is that this incident should never have happened and Walmart has engaged in bad business by allowing its stores to be the center of such a racially-charged controversy.
There is the added reality that Kennett, Missouri is Rush Limbaugh country. Respect for African Americans in the legal system of this town is not what it should be, and the more emails I receive about past indiscretions in this region, the more I am starting to wonder if Heather was going to be treated fairly in the first place. The presence of the KKK doesn't help their case and only serves to remind us that we do not live in a "post racial America."
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Professor at Syracuse University and the 2007 Black Speaker of the Year. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. To follow Dr. Boyce on Twitter, click here. If you wish to find out more about the case of Heather Ellis, please visit www.SaveHeatherEllis.com. 
Comments: (73)
Add a comment
By: CC on 10/14/2009 1:46PM
This is absolutely rediculous. As a walmart customer i find it absurd that they have 100 lanes and open only about 6. I dont buy much, just my basic toiletries, the most 5 items and i have to stand in line for at leat half an hour. When i shop with someone, we break up and whomevers line gets closer to checkout, we move there. I have "Cut" this way plenty of times and I have NEVER had a problem from the cashier or the customers. sounds like a racist town to me.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Mrs. Jackson on 10/14/2009 4:04PM
This incident was blown way overboard and the way law enforcement handled this is way out of proportion. 15 years? Yeah, it's a racist town.
Now, having said that I will say this. I don't take too kindly to people doing this as IT IS cutting the line. Do I make a big deal out of it, NO, but if I am standing there practically all day, then someone ahead of me allows one or two other people to get in line, whereas they were NOT in that line before, it's cutting the line. If they try and be slick to give them their items and get out of line, still, the same thing, the cashier has to spend MORE time ringing up the extra items of someone else, while the rest of us wait. I know my opinion on this matter may not be popular, but again, IF you , nor your items you are wanting to purchase WERE NOT in that line prior to me walking up, but then you give them to said person as they get closer to checkout, you have cut the line.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: carla ford on 10/14/2009 4:15PM
@ Mrs. Jackson,
I agree completely as I've experienced someone handing their items to the person in front of me; in the big scheme of things however, its small potatos. The fact that the cashier instigated this situation further instead of diffusing it is disturbing, yet not surprising considering this is Walmart we're talking about.
Report This
By: carla ford on 10/14/2009 4:19PM
Even more disturbing is once the store manager was made aware of the problem the police were still called as if this woman was a shoplifter! Seriously-calling the police for a line-cutter?@!! What is management there for if they're not able to handle irate or unreasonable customers-my 16 year old brother could probably do a better job.
Report This
By: Tammie on 10/15/2009 8:33PM
I live in Mo and this state is more racist than my berth state, Ms. The KKK is on the rise because of thee fear of losing control of America because we have a Black President. The one thing I do know Black people better get themselves together! We do more self destructing than the we realize. My concern is us as a whole.
Report This
By: Tamara on 10/16/2009 10:40PM
I've also been in Wal-mart and only a few line are open and alot of people are in line so we go to self check out if it's just a few items, sometimes we go to different lines and divide the grocery's so we can get out quicker if we have alot of items. But I believe the cashier should have handled it differently or call for manager to get other registers opened. People don't like to wait a long time in line.
Report This
By: vjones on 10/14/2009 8:35PM
i am black american in mass.if black people boy cott walmartstores around country.the company would get the messageto everyonein united states.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Rene on 10/17/2009 1:19AM
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. NO COMPANY ESPECIALLY WALMART WANTS OR NEEDS BAD PUBLICITY. BUT WILL PEOPLE STOP BUYING THAT WILL BE THE PROBLEM. NO ONE WANTS TO GET INVOLVED, BUT BOYCOTT IS THE ONLY WAY TO SEND A MESSAGE, AND ALSO LETTERS TO THE HEADQUARTERS IN BENTON,ARKANSAS. I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF THE PEN. AND I'M SAYING BLACK AND WHITE SHOULD PROTEST, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS NOT JUST A ISSUE FOR BLACKS, BUT AN ISSUE FOR THE HUMAN RACE. WE HAVE TO SHUT DOWN THE RACIST, AND IT WILL TAKE BLACK AND WHITE. JUST LIKE DURING SLAVERY THERE WERE GOOD WHITE PEOPLE WHO HELPED TO ABOLISH SLAVERY. THIS NEEDS TO STOP, THE KLAN SHOULD ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT 1930 THIS IS 2009 BLACK PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO PASSIVELY ALLOW THEM TO TREAT US ANY KIND OF WAY WE WILL FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS "BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY".
Report This
By: Bill C on 10/15/2009 3:16PM
Cutting the line is wrong...period.
The store clerk and manager calling the police was doubly wrong...In arresting Ms.
Ellis the police were triply wrong...the KKK are assholes so they are wrong by default. Boycotting Walmart all over the country just exacebates the problem. Drop the charges and tell the KKK to butt out and cross Kenneth Missouri off your list of places to visit.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: SHANTRELL on 10/20/2009 9:16AM
RBJ, THANK YOU FOR THAT UN-REHEARSED COMMENT YOU MADE. IT MUST HAVE TAKEN YOU ALL DAY TO THINK OF IT...HOWEVER, YOU MADE YOUR POINT. NOW WE KNOW JUST WHAT TO DO...TO ALL MY BROTHA'S AND SISTAH. I KNOW OF SEVERAL GROUPS WHO WILL GO TO TENNESSEE AND HELP ORGANIZE....WALMART IS TRIVIA BUT FOR ALL THOSE CAVEBOY NEANDERTHALS RUNNING AROUND WITH SHEETS ON THEIR CONE HEADS LIKE THE ASSHOLE THEY REALLY ARE... WELL LETS JUST SAY WORK WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY ANY MEANS NECCESSARY.
Report This