Police open investigation into store racism

The Civil Police of Ceará opened an investigation to investigate racism at the Zara Store, located in Shopping Iguatemi, in Fortaleza. The case had national repercussions. This is because according to the Police, the store in question would have a “code” to alert employees about the entry of black people. As well as people who do not meet “the store’s standards”.

According to information released by the Police, this “code” was announced on the store’s sound system as “Zara Zerou”.

In fact, this is not the first time that Zara has been accused of racism. The suspicion of discrimination comes shortly after the episode in which a black delegate was prevented from entering the same store. After that, the brand has been the target of several protests.

Zara’s code

“Witnesses who worked at the location claim that they were instructed to identify these people with stereotypes outside the store’s standard. From then on, she was treated as a harmful person who should be monitored closely. This generally occurred with people with simpler clothes and ‘people of color’”, said the general delegate of the Civil Police of Ceará, Sérgio Pereira, in a statement.

According to the delegate, this type of approach has also been adopted in other countries, resulting in the payment of compensation.

“This code was “Zara zerou”, which was discovered during the investigation. He advises that there is an approach within the store when someone “different” arrives, so to speak, without the Zara consumer profile. It’s as if that person stopped being a consumer and became a suspect”, explained Alerte Silveira, delegate and director of the Department of Defense for Vulnerable Groups.

Zara Store denied racism. In a note sent to the Uol website, Zara Brasil stated that it will be collaborating with the authorities in this investigation, but that it has not yet had access to the Police report.

“Zara is a company that does not tolerate any type of discrimination and for which diversity, multiculturalism and respect are inherent and inseparable values ​​of the corporate culture. Zara rejects any form of racism, which must be combatted with the utmost seriousness in all aspects,” the statement read.

Other cases of racism

The “Zara code” investigation began shortly after a case of racism in that same store, when new details were discovered. In the episode that occurred on September 14th, delegate Ana Paula Barroso, who is black, filed a police report after being prevented from entering the store by the manager.

In testimony, the store manager involved in the situation, Bruno Felipe Simões, claimed that he prevented the delegate from entering because she was wearing the mask inappropriately. However, Ana Paula Barretou disagreed with the allegation, stating that the investigation gathered evidence that confirms her version of her story.

In this case, the evidence is the images captured by the store and shopping center cameras, where the deputy appeared with her mask lowered because she was eating ice cream. According to information, during her visit to the establishment, the customer wore the protective item correctly.

In fact, the images show the different treatment among Zara customers. “In the images, it is possible to see when the victim is expelled from the place, when minutes before, the same employee served a customer who, even though she was not consuming any food, was not wearing her mask correctly. The scene was observed in other situations in which other customers were also not removed from the store or approached so that they could use the mask correctly”, confirmed the Civil Police.

The manager was indicted for a crime of racism. According to information from Uol, after the episode, entities from the black movement went to court against the store chain. They would be asking for compensation of R$40 million for collective moral damage.

Take the opportunity to also check out: Ruby Rose: Batwoman actress denounces abuse and serious accidents on set.