Milwaukee Bucks big man John Henson was looking to spend a bit of that new $40 million-plus contract at a jewelry store Monday, but the business made the big fella feel incredibly unwelcome.
Henson posted a detailed and lengthy report of what he believes to be racially-motivated discrimination on Instagram:
“Went to @schwankekasten jewelry today in White-Fish Bay during regular business hours. They locked the door and told me to go away. After I rang the doorbell twice everyone went to the back. No answered the door or told me what was going on. This was followed by two police cars pulling up and parking across the street and watching me for 5 minutes ( I assumed they were called by the store ). I was then approached by 2 officers and questioned about the dealer vehicle I was in which is apart of my endorsement deal with Kunes country Chevrolet and asked me what I wanted amongst other things that were just irrelevant to me being there just trying to shop at the store like a normal paying customer would do. I told them I was just trying to look at a watch. He then had to go in the back and tell them to come out it was safe but this is after they ran my plates and I overheard them talking about doing more of a background check on the car. The employees finally came out of the back and proceeded to conduct business like they previously were as we walked up. This was one of the the most degrading and racially prejudice things I’ve ever experienced in life and wouldn’t wish this on anyone. This store needs to be called out and that’s what I’m doing. You have no right to profile someone because of their race and nationality and this incident needs to be brought to light and I urge anyone who ever is thinking of shopping here reads this and doesn’t bring any business to this discriminatory place.”
The Bucks said the incident was troubling, while the store’s owner blamed the police for his employees’ actions.
Troubling for the entire Bucks family. Nobody should have to experience what John did. https://t.co/d6gCnub30c
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) October 19, 2015
Per the Journal Sentinel and Whitefish Bay Now:
The Bucks released a statement Monday afternoon that said: “We’ve spoken with John about what happened. It’s very troubling to all of us. Nobody should be treated that way. We are trying to contact the store directly.”
Henson’s Instagram post has sparked a surge of criticisms against Schwanke-Kasten on social media. […] Tom Dixon, the owner of Schwanke-Kasten Jewelry, said the Whitefish Bay Police Department had informed local business owners to be on alert, and the employees’ actions were in response to the police department’s warning.
