Old Navy Racially Profiles, Says Iowa Man Who Plans Lawsuit

WEST DES MOINES, IA — An African-American man plans to sue the owners of an Old Navy store for racial discrimination after he said he was profiled in a West Des Moines, Iowa, store and accused of stealing the jacket he was wearing. James Conley III posted video of the encounter on Facebook in a case that has gained worldwide attention.

Conley, 29, said on Facebook that he wore an Old Navy jacket he received as a Christmas gift to the store on Tuesday and employees accused him of stealing it when he went to the counter to pay for other merchandise. White customers who were also wearing Old Navy apparel weren’t treated similarly, Conley said in his Facebook post.

“As I was checking out to purchase some hoodies, I was asked if I wanted to also purchase the jacket that I was wearing,” he wrote. “First, I started laughing because I didn’t believe what I was hearing.”

The employee insisted on scanning the jacket, Conley wrote, and only backed off after he asked for a manager to step in and review a surveillance video.

“Whatever color your skin, you shouldn't have to deal with that while you're shopping,” Conley said Thursday during a news conference in Des Moines at the Parrish Kruidenier law firm, which is representing him in the civil rights lawsuit, the Des Moines Register reported. He also plans a civil lawsuit against the store

"For that to happen, it really hit home for me," Conley said. "At first I was going to remain silent ... for that to happen in the way it did in front of other customers, it was really embarrassing.

"That's not the right thing you should do to a customer. ... I don't wish that on anybody."

The Iowa-Nebraska NAACP plans to investigate the matter, KCCI-TV reported.

"Racial profiling is humiliating," said Betty Andrews, president of the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP. "It is hurtful and it is outrageous."

Old Navy said in a statement on its Facebook page that it has reached out to Conley to apologize.

“This week, one of our customers left our store feeling discriminated against. We have reached out to the customer to apologize for the experience,” the statement read. “To be clear, Old Navy is a brand that stands for inclusivity and is deeply committed to ensuring all shoppers and employees are treated with respect and dignity.

“We are conducting a thorough investigation of the incident at our Jordan Creek, Des Moines, Iowa store on Tuesday, January 30, and are connecting with our teams to reiterate who we are as a brand and what we stand for. The investigation is ongoing; however, we can assure you discrimination of any kind is a direct violation of company policy. Profiling is not tolerated in our stores, and we will swiftly take action in accordance with our policies, beliefs and values.”

Gap Inc., which owns Old Navy, said in a statement that “we maintain a 'zero means zero' policy and we are actively investigating the situation.”

"We are a company made up of diverse people — from all backgrounds and cultures. We encourage diversity in thought, celebrate diversity in each other and demand tolerance and inclusion, always,” the statement read.
Below is Conley’s Facebook post.

AP Photo/Seth Wenig