16 year old Elijah Scott was sent home from work at a Springfield, Ohio branch of grocery store Kroger, after a customer complained about the Colin Kaepernick jersey he was wearing.
According to a flyer posted on Scott's snapchat, every Sunday, employees are permitted to wear "NFL Gear" to work.
Apparently, a customer complained to management and said that he would not "shop there again" if Scott was allowed to wear the "
disrespectful" jersey.
Scott was sent home to change his jersey and he came back to work in his Kroger shirt. His mother, Diane Scott, called the store and was told that since it was "September 11 and Elijah was on company time" he would "
not be allowed to disrespect customers."
His father, Robert Scott: "I was upset, but I wasn't shocked...
It's something you get used to after so many years."
Only after the family reached out to their local NAACP chapter, "store management admitted that they didn't handle the situation appropriately." The NAACP also received a call from Kroger corporate headquarters in Cinncinati with an apology.
Kroger issued a statement Friday afternoon: "We are aware of this situation and have apologized to Elijah and his mother.
Diversity, inclusion and respect are among our company's core values and ones we strive to live up to every day."
The family has not heard of any disciplinary action to be taken against the assistant manager who sent Scott home. His father: "Somebody should be held accountable for what happened."
Scott has been
invited to wear his jersey again on Sunday.
Source
1,
2, & Elijah Scott's Snapchat