To: Management, Dollar Tree Store #7394

4401 Western Ave, South Bend 46619

To whom it concerns:

I write· to you as a resident· of South Bend , a customer of your store· , and as a deeply concerned community· member . I will not tolerate· the recent egregious· actions of Dollar Tree employees and management· against another member of our community· .

As you are aware , this summer , a white· sales clerk at store· # 7394 targeted and assaulted Ms . Joanna Garner . The sales clerk racially profiled Ms . Garner , falsely accused her of stealing , and verbally attacked her with anti-Black hate· speech· . This unacceptable and racist behavior· was followed by a fraudulent· call· to the South Bend Police Department and further threats by the clerk to Ms . Garner .

As of today , almost a month after this violent· incident· , management· at Dollar Tree have· done nothing to remedy· the harm· caused . Store representatives have· refused to release· security· footage , to issue· a public statement· , or to respond· in any way· at all to Ms . Garner’s complaints .

The Michiana Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression , Black Lives Matter - South Bend , and other community· groups and individuals are responding to this entirely unacceptable disturbance· . Rather than serving our community· , your store· has created intolerable harm· . As you are aware , we have· organized a picket· of your location· this past· month , and are prepared to continue· .

I join· Ms . Garner and the wider South Bend community· in demanding that Dollar Tree Store # 7394 :

Release security· footage of the attack· on Ms . Garner;

Train employees to respect· the dignity and rights of all customers;

Issue a strong· , public apology and statement· immediately .