Teen Arrested At Barney’s For Shopping While Black

A black teenager who said he was racially profiled after using his hard earned money is now suing the famous Barney’s store.

Trayon Christian says he was profiled by Barneys New York, and then taken into custody by New York Police Department officers who couldn’t believe the young Black man could afford to purchase a $350 belt. The college student has now filed a lawsuit in Manhattan’s Supreme Court against the department store and the police.

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Christian said after he saw rapper Juelz Santana and several other rappers wear the same belt, the fashion forward teen wanted the same thing. But when he brought the belt, he was asked for identification. The identification matched with his debit card, and the representative questioned him no further. After purchasing the belt, and walking out the store, Christian was approached by two plain clothes police officers. He was handcuffed and then taken into custody. Police questioned him after he produced various types of identification and a receipt for the belt. The 19-year-old says that officers eventually called his bank, which confirmed that Christian was, indeed, who he said he was. Officers then let him go, apologized, and never filed actual charges—despite holding him for two hours.

Christian returned the belt calling what happened “racist and cruel”, and is suing Barney’s and the NYPD for unspecified damages.

Seen at : NY Daily News