A Jacksonville, Florida, family has filed a lawsuit against Walmart, alleging racial profiling and wrongful detention after a routine exchange turned into a humiliating ordeal.
Nekeeya Brewster and her husband, Raymond, both African Americans, claim the retail giant falsely accused them of theft, unlawfully detained them, and subjected them and their children to emotional distress.
The incident occurred at Walmart’s River City Marketplace location when the Brewsters returned to exchange children’s clothing purchased the previous day.
According to the lawsuit, Nekeeya Brewster followed standard procedures, placing the clothes and receipt in a tied Walmart bag before heading to the store’s children’s section to find new sizes.
While at customer service to complete the exchange, Nekeeya was accused by store employees of concealing stolen items. Despite showing a receipt proving her purchase, Walmart staff called in the store’s loss prevention team.
The Brewster family was then taken to a small room and detained with their three daughters while officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office were summoned.
“We get into this room,” Raymond Brewster recounted. “They close the door. The room is probably like a 10 by 10, like it’s really small. So, you know, it’s like me, my three daughters, my wife, two loss prevention guys, and two officers.”
After questioning Walmart employees, police found no evidence of theft and released the family without charges. However, the Brewsters say the emotional damage was done.
“I go there all the time, shop there all the time, and what happened to us was unimaginable,” Raymond said. “I never expected that to happen.”
The family’s lawsuit accuses Walmart of racial profiling, false imprisonment, and perpetuating a pattern of discriminatory behavior against Black customers.
They are seeking damages, a jury trial, and have filed for a class-action lawsuit to address similar grievances from other Black shoppers.
This case also coincides with mounting criticism of Walmart’s rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The company recently ceased racial equity training for employees, prompting concerns that such policies—or the lack thereof—may contribute to discriminatory practices.
