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iwhCr'� Co��u <br /> 13Z�Y,41�_ t4w,44 <br /> July 10, 2017 <br /> Dear Mayor Roe and the Roseville City Council Members, <br /> I would like to inform you of an unfortunate experience I had while shopping at MGM Roseville on July <br /> 1", 2017. I bought 6 bottles of wine, and as I was checking out I was asked by an employee to open my <br /> bag so she could search it. I had a medium-sized bag on me and I have been going to this store for a long <br /> time(usually with my white husband)and have never been asked this, so, as a person of color, I became <br /> concerned that I was possibly being racially profiled. I asked her if this was done to all of their <br /> customers. She replied that it was because of increased thefts at their store. I asked again if this was <br /> universally done as a policy. She said yes. I paid for my wine and left the store. During my visit,none of <br /> the other patrons in the store were searched. <br /> After a few minutes, I called the store and spoke to Stacey Kuhlman,who identified herself as the store <br /> owner. I asked her if this was a policy, and if so, why I did not see any signs in the store. She said that <br /> there was a sign on the door stating the policy. When I expressed that I had felt singled out due to the <br /> color of my skin, she replied,"we searched you because we couldn't watch you shop....I assume you're <br /> black and we've had a lot of theft by black people here lately...don't come back here again." When my <br /> husband went to the store to return the wine and express his outrage,the male store manager apologized. <br /> Ms. Kuhlman continued to defend her actions in the name of"protecting her business". She told her <br /> employee to"ring him up so he can get out of here." <br /> All I wanted to do that day was to buy wine for a dinner party that I was hosting. Instead, I felt racially <br /> profiled,which was compounded by feeling disrespected as a person of color and as a customer when I <br /> spoke to Ms. Kuhlman on the phone. She freely admitted to me and to friends of mine who spoke to her <br /> shortly after the incident that she was singling out people of color—specifically black people. Her racism <br /> rings loud and clear. People of color are not welcome or valued customers in her store. Online reviews <br /> from around one month and one year ago show that my experience was not an isolated incident. <br /> Ms. Kuhlman and the people she knows are now trying to discredit me. I don't know her personally, and <br /> have never met or interacted with her prior to this incident. I have no personal vendetta against her. Why <br /> would I want to disrupt my life like this? I've had to make my Facebook profile private due to negative <br /> comments. I've refused all media coverage due to fear of retaliation from Ms.Kuhlman and her <br /> likeminded friends. It was unfortunate for her that I happened to be that one she spoke to that day, and <br /> that as a physician and activist I am able to use my position in the community to bring about change. <br /> How many other people have been subjected to this type of treatment but didn't have the time,capacity, <br /> credentials or resources to hold her accountable? I knew that I had no choice but to speak out and take <br /> action. Mayor Roe and Councilmembers: now that you know that this shameful business practice is <br /> happening in your community, I urge you to speak out and take action too. <br /> Thank you. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Mary Beltran Shapland,MD <br /> Emergency Physician <br /> President of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights in MN <br />