Gallery Update
GEORGE NEWS AND VIDEO - Supporters of the PBI, ANC, Icosa, AIC and EFF gathered in the parking lot of the Garden Route Mall at 12:00 this afternoon, Friday 12 June, uniting in protest against racism.
The protest came in response to an incident in the mall shortly before closing time last night, when a physical altercation occurred between a female shopper and a security guard at the entrance near Incredible Connection.
PHOTO GALLERY: PROTEST AT GARDEN ROUTE MALL
The leadership of the political parties engaged with mall management about the incident.
Addressing the crowd of protestors after the meeting, Virgill Gericke of the PBI said they demanded that an arrest be made following last night’s incident.
“Black lives matter and we must pay attention to the issue of racism in this incident,” Gericke said to the protesters. “The mere fact that the white guy is coming from the blind side to tackle a security guard that is doing his work means that he is asking the black security guard ‘why are you touching the hand of a white lady?’. It means that he is regarding himself as superior and therefore he dived [sic] into the security guard and he showed him ‘I am still your boss.’ We say that is nonsense! The management of the mall has given us the undertaking that after they have concluded their process they will ban this gentleman from this mall.” Gericke gave management until 30 June to react.
A video of the incident that went viral last night, shows a physical altercation between a woman and a security guard, which is interrupted when the woman’s fiancé takes the guard down in a flying tackle.
Watch a video of Gericke addressing the crowd below.
Earlier today, mall manager Rion Olivier said the rumours on social media that the security guard was fired after the incident were not true.
“Kindly note that the security guard was not fired and charges were laid earlier this morning by our security firm and himself. The police will conduct their investigation as per the case approximately a month ago where a member of the public was arrested for assault and being in contravention of the Covid-19 act, not wearing a mask,” he said.
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