AFA Activism

Action Alert - 12/07/01

Kmart manager: “People like you are ignorant.”

Oklahoma City manager tells AFA supporter, “People like you are ignorant, AFA is an ignorant group. I don’t like ignorant people calling me."

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December 7, 2001

AFA supporter Carla Young wasn’t prepared for the shocking reply she received from a local Kmart manager. Mrs. Young told AFA she called to share her concern that Kmart is selling profane and violent music to kids. She said an Oklahoma City Kmart manager had these words for her, “People like you are ignorant, AFA is an ignorant group I don’t like ignorant people calling me.” He then abruptly hung up the phone.

In a follow-up call by AFA Special Projects Director Randy Sharp, store manager Stephano Douglas refused to discuss the issue. “He said he wasn’t going to talk to me,” Sharp said, “The next sound I heard was a click.”

Robin Ariazi, a Kmart corporate spokesperson, declined to say if disciplinary action would be take against the manager, but that it would remain in the manager’s private file.

AFA President Don Wildmon said, “Many Kmart managers are getting an overwhelming number of calls from people joining the boycott. I understand they’re frustrated, but name-calling is not a proper response. On the other hand, a number of managers have expressed agreement with AFA and hope the boycott is successful in getting explicit music out of their stores.”

In September, AFA called for a national boycott of Kmart after they changed their music policy earlier this year. Before April, 2001, Kmart did not stock music that carried parental warning labels. The boycott announcement is based on several reasons:

Kmart has chosen to place profit before corporate responsibility.
Kmart's sales policy, "no sales to anyone under 17," is
not and has not been enforced. AFA tested the policy
in seven states, seven stores, with seven children
under the age of 17. In each case, the child (one 11
years old)was never questioned about age, although the
register required it. In one instance, one clerk
showed another how to override the command.
Kmart is the largest retailer to sell labeled music.
Kmart repeatedly refused requests to discuss the issue
in a private meeting.
Kmart promotes themselves as a "family" chain. They
should conduct themselves as one.

In contrast, Wal-Mart refuses to sell labeled music. The policy from their web site reads: "Wal-Mart will not stock music with parental guidance stickers.” This policy also applies to the company’s on-line web site. Recently, when stickered music was discovered on the Walmart.com web site, it was immediately removed. Walmart.com public relations spokesperson, Cynthia Lynn, told AFA the on-line posts were an oversight and she welcomes notification by on-line customers.

Wildmon said AFA will continue to focus on the Kmart boycott until they change their music policy. “We are also aware of a similar policy at Target Stores. We’re watching them closely.”

ACTION NEEDED

1) Make a toll-free call to Kmart at their customer care desk and let them know, in a kind way, that you will not shop at their stores until they stop selling violent and profane music.

2) Let Kmart Chairman Julian Day know you are offended by the Oklahoma City manager’s rude comments.

3) Call your local Kmart and give the manager the same message.

Kmart contact information:

Kmart Corporation
Chairman Julian Day
3100 W. Big Beaver Rd.
Troy, MI 48084
Customer Care Desk: (toll free) 1-866-562-7848
Main Phone: 248-463-1000
Fax: 248-463-5636
Email: Chairman Julian Day

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