Some major retailers to list shoppers’ rights

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Responding to allegations of racial profiling, a coalition of major retailers agreed Monday to create a customer bill of rights that will explicitly prohibit profiling and unreasonable searches.

Civil-rights leaders met Monday with representatives from retail chains including Barneys, Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Lord & Taylor and The Gap, the Rev. Al Sharpton said.

The agreement, drafted by the Retail Council of New York State trade group, prohibits profiling and unreasonable searches and states that workers who violate their employers’ prohibition on profiling will be disciplined and could be fired.

The document also supports internal tests to ensure stores are complying with the prohibition.

The two groups first met last month after several black shoppers alleged they were racially profiled at Macy’s and Barneys New York. The stores denied they had policies that targeted black customers.

The bill of rights will be posted in stores and on retailers’ websites this week. Retailers have also begun to re-evaluate the tactics used for security. Sharpton said the group has requested a meeting with incoming Police Commissioner William Bratton to discuss boundaries regarding the NYPD’s involvement in retail security.

A spokeswoman for Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio said he appreciates the bill of rights and the retailers’ efforts.