Mo. woman claims discrimination in Wal-Mart incident

We could get a verdict as soon as today in the case of Heather Ellis, a black woman accused of assaulting a cop and other crimes in Kennett, Mo. It all stems from a January 2007 incident at a Wal-Mart. Ellis allegedly cut in line at a register, which set off a "contretemps." She allegedly threatened another customer, screamed loudly and kicked two cops. Ellis says that police roughed her up and used racial slurs against her, and she says that store personnel refused to give her back her change and demanded to see her ID, even though she was paying with cash. (As the Post-Dispatch notes, another customer admits to cutting, too, and misbehaving, but didn't get into trouble.)

If Ellis gets convicted, she could theoretically get 15 years -- but because she's a schoolteacher with an otherwise clean record, so I sort of doubt she'd get the max.

In a Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009 file photo, Heather Ellis, left, arm-in-arm with her mother, Hester Ellis, exits the Stoddard County Justice Center in Bloomfield, Mo., following a pre-trial hearing. Syracuse, N.Y.-based Your Black World Coalition is organizing a Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 rally in Kennett in support of Ellis. (AP Photo/Dexter Daily Statesman, Corey Noles, File

Comments

[Searching]

So, what's her defense on this, I am black, so I can behave any way I chose, and if you disagree, I will scream racism?

[Brad]

Not buying the race card when you're the one who cut in line and then went off when called on it. Should have played the PMS card. Normal people don't act like that.

[Matt]

Its called black woman sassiness. Get the big chip off your shoulder and quit using "being black" to excuse bad behavior.

[Alex]

It always boils down to racism. It's sad really, and the messed up thing is... The people complaining the most about it are the ones that keep bringing it up. Just drop it. It will always be around and it's never just directed to one race, deal with it. Just wanting to find a reason to sue to get money. In the end the only thing people want is money handed to them.

[lkjlkjlkj]

"So, what's her defense on this, I am black, so I can behave any way I chose, and if you disagree, I will scream racism?"

I dont know, but your comment is a good to discredit every person who claims discrimination though. What you said is pretty much like saying: "Youre Black, you CANNOT claim discrimination, if you do regardless if youre guilty or not I'll blame the crime on you and if you speak of this racism that was happened to you, I'll say youre "screaming racism"; as an attempt to discredit you".

[joanna dean]

be obama will pay her attorney bill

[Tompson]

"Not buying the race card when you're the one who cut in line and then went off when called on it. Should have played the PMS card. Normal people don't act like that."

Theres two sides to the story, seems to me you COMPLETELY DENIED her side of the story, did you deny her side of the story because shes Black? Are you White by any chance? Are you a racist? I'm White.

[James Hart]

Guys: Keep it civil, please. Disagree with each other's points, but don't make the disagreements personal. Thanks!

[ShermanOaksCA]

I do not think any of the bloggers here are flat out saying that since this woman (or any person) is black they cannot claim discrimination even when a claim is warranted. I take their comments as they posted them. This woman, in THIS particular case does not appear to have been discriminated against based on her race. Now, was she flat out unruly, unlawful and disrespectful to authority? Yes. Absolutely yes.

[Searching]

She cut in line, caused six kinds of crap, threatened people, kicked 2 cops... and then cried racism... no.. not buying a word she has to say. Bet nothing has EVER been her fault.

[Tompson]

That seems logical, but based of what evidence? Please provide some of the courtroom evidence so that we can be the judge of it ourselves.

[rhonda]

I like her outfit.

[D-man]

James,
Can you make a "Something awful happened at Wal-Mart" tagline?

[Enoch001]

The truth generally lies somewhere in the middle; and it is usually self-evident as well. Tragically; we prefer to ignore the truth in favor of our own biases and present them as truths.

[Vicki]

One year at x-mass I walked out of a K-mart after purchasing my items and I was the only one to set off the alarm.(promantly black store) I screamed (loudly) its because Im white isnt it, this is because Im white. Nothing happened???

[Morgan Dudley]

Did you even read this article before making such ridiculous comments. She's suing because she didn't get her change and the cops used racial slurs. Whoever heard of asking for ID to get your change when you paid for your items in cash?

[Brad]

Tompson--what in my post is racist? The fact that I'm calling BS on her claiming racism being the root of the problem? It's clear from the article that her own actions set forth the chain of events. I'll stand by the expectation of taking responsibility for one's own actions.

[Vicki]

Everything we were taught in kindergarden was to help us be better adults. Color in the lines and you will be able to park in the lines. Walk wiht your finger on your lips and hand on your hip so not to be annoying people with the nonsense comeing out of your mouth. Respect and comon sense are things of the past. With out religion this is what the world comes to.

[Tompson]

Brad,

OK. You have the right to your opinion. What evidence do you base your opinion on?

[geeta]

I am white first off, with a black son-in-law, a black brother-in-law and a black-cousin-in-law, and each of these men are as different from one another as the partners, which happen to be my blood relatives are! I do think that sometimes because of all the discrimination the black race has suffered they can be real quick to assume that any reprimand they may recieve is merely that, but at times it can be that something that is accepted by their culture is not by mainstream society, such as stopping in traffic because you want to have a conversation with a someone in the car going the other way...so now two lanes of traffic are at a stand still with no way to go around these cars someone might honk or even loose their temper...does that make that person a racist? I just can't help but wonder what did transpire at the Walmart.
Hope the truth is revealed.
I for one think the race card is played too often, yet while saying that I do feel there are yet racist. It is a hot mess.

[Cousin Eddie]

With out religion this is what the world comes to.

Posted by: Vicki | Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 11:01 AM

Seriously?!

[getreal85]

I think it's simple: Wal-Mart had cameras running. The cameras will show how she acted and the reaction of those around her, including verbal expressions.

From the sound of it - from both sides of the story - she was wrong in what she did but it blew up like a grenade in a barrel of oatmeal.

Odds are BOTH sides are wrong, but of course, since she's black, it's ALL about racism, not whether she - or ANYONE ELSE was simply being rude as hell and should be slapped silly for it.

[Gen]

What kind of a message did this teacher send to her students?? Sounds to me like her race is JERK!

[E Honda]

She attacked a cop. That's a brilliant way to invalidate any race card play.

Unless the discrimination at hand is against retarded people, in which case I'd have to agree. She's too dumb to know any better. We should put her in front of the armed forces and have her kick a general in the nuts. See how they'd discriminate against her stupidity with a hail of bullets. =D

Please, play your race card a few states below the mason-dixon, mmkay? Or an hero. Either way, stfu.

[Peggy Sue]

She is a school teacher, then she should know the story of the little boy that hollard wolf one time too many. My opinion is that we as a society have heard so much about racism that it is as the little boy hollering wolf.
Thank you and God bless you all
Peggy Sue

[Jellybean]

People like this are enemies to their race. When they 'play the race card' in ridiculous situations it invalidates so many legitimate claims of race bias.
I agree with Brad - she should have just excused herself and said she had PMS.

[E Honda]

Her school was too poor to afford "books". Instead, she spent all the school funding on her dress and the court lawyers.

So instead, she taught about the little boy that hollered "racism". The ending is different too. I heard James Cameron originally turned down the movie offer until she cried racism.

[Shane]

What about the ppl she cut off in line? Hmm she think she is better or that they still owe her something? WTH is it that in General Blacks scream racism every time they do something stupid I personally think its a disgrace to your race. BTW she Discriminated against those she cut off in line just cause your black dosent mean you get a get out of jail free card " Rasism" and to think that our education system has someone like her teaching our kids Gawd let me guess Free education based on her race and a teaching Job based on the fact that employeers have to hire so many of the black race regardless or they will be discriminating ...... regardless of job requirements ect.

[Cleophus Lovejoy]

She's facing 15 years over this? And that sounds fair? Asking for I.D. when you're paying cash sounds right?

[Nemesis]

She just took the grand prize for rudeness and since a picture is worth 1000 words I'm betting she's also arrogant and selfish enough to be proud of it.

[Chuck Rizzo]

She's facing 15 years for kicking 2 officers.

[Lola]

It sounds like a lot of people on here aren't really understanding this case. This trial is not about her bringing a lawsuit against Walmart-- she is being charged with FELONIES for this. No matter what happened, for the prosecutor to attempt to make this woman a convicted felon is pretty overzealous. Second, it sounds like she is denying the allegations that she attacked the cops. The jury doesn't have to decide whether this was racially motivated, they have to decide whether she committed a crime. How does our society benefit from making this woman a convicted felon?
And if anyone doesn't believe that racism is alive and well in Missouri, they should just start reading this blog.

[Fenris]

Seems to me she's facing 15 years for threatening another customer, assaulting a police officer, and disturbing the peace. Out of those, the police officer assaulting is probably the big one.

I don't know about you, but I've never been threatened with jail time when somebody wants to see my ID regardless the reason.

[Chuck Rizzo]

A lot of it to seems like, she alleges they asked for ID, she alleged this and then she alleged that, same with the other side it depends really on what the witnessess say.

[Robert]

I am personally just trying to understand why it seems like the race card is always being pulled when a person of color gets called on something. The message portrayed in the media, and what seems like this case, makes it seem that if a black person does something wrong, gets called on it, they pull the race card instead of taking responsibility for their actions. This case looks like it was a HUGE cascade of problems. Just wondering why people would rather play the race card than take responsibility. Can someone please help me and others understand? I am not racist, but just trying to understand the mentality.

[me]

Black people have been treating me like crap for years, Should I sue?
I hope she gets nothing except a good lesson on how not to be rude!

[Nemesis]

"Can someone please help me and others understand? I am not racist, but just trying to understand the mentality."

"people would rather play the race card than take responsibility"

You answered your own question.

[Brad]

Well, I actually read the article.

[Robert]

Me, thanks for that comment :) I was trying to see if someone could back up my thought.

[Annoyed]

This case will be open and shut with her being found guilty. As said before there are cameras that most likely filmed the entire thing. The DA plays them in court, she then is sentenced. Her being convicted here will most likely ruin whatever case she has against Wally Mart whether she was being called slurs or not.

[spicolli]

She looks like a real pleasant beotch.

[KC Cicero]

Everything you need to know about who is right in this is contained in the near-last paragraph of the story: All she had to do to make this go away was agree not to sue the cops (& Walmart).

That is why this was charged as a felony assault on a cop rather than a city ordinance for resisting arrest or disorderly conduct.

It is all to protect the cops and the store from a lawsuit by using the threat of prison to extort a civil release.

By the way, that kind of corporate/state cooperation is called Fascism, FYI.

[Chuck Rizzo]

I was wondering if it was filmed.

[Tia]

The lady does look like she has a couple of issues...However, being Black has nothing to do with those issues.I've met White, Latino and Asians who can be rude also...
I do think this woman experienced racism and was at the same time being a little rude herself. I do notice on this board certain people expressing there bias toward Blacks in slight jabs directed toward this woman and her case.

[Chone]

Ok alot of people are saying that african american people use the race card to much and there is no racism, but these comments on here is very evident that there is. I have family in this area, and these small towns are very much have alot of racial tension going on. These towns have blacks living on one side of the tracks & whites on the others. The kids really dont associate unless they are in school. But that is not the reason why I am typing this. Now I am not saying it is right to jump in front of a line when people are waiting, but alot of stuff don't make sense. She jumped in front of someone, and the cashier went ahead and checked her out? I thought words were exchanged as soon as she jumped in front of the line. Then she wanted her cash back after the transaction and they wanted ID? When have we ever gotten asked for ID when u have change back from the itemes u bought? Secondly if the police actually called her those names & said racial slurs it suppose to be ok, and u stil suppose to keep ur cool? See this is the problem. I am not sayin either one of them is right or wrong because I was not there, but we are told to follow police orders at all times, however if police are calling u n words or saying horrible remarks its ok? I am saying that would make me upset also, and maybe freak out if they are arresting me and saying these things to me! I just hope the truth comes out, but for all of these bloggers saying she is beotch & she using the race card to much. I am sorry, being called a n word or being told to go back to the ghetto is not civil. That is racism!

[lee]

She looks like a drag queen

[Chone]

I am sorry Jane, but I raise my kids with respect. I did not say it was ok to cut the line, I said that after she cut the line they still checked her items out and refuse to giver her change back. Why not just tell her to leave & not check her items through then refuse to give her change back. And excueses for who? Black people? Well I am black & I don't make any excuse for me or my children. All I am saying if it is true that the police did say those things they are out of line. Point blank period! You can not say what harm black people and sum it all up for every black person. Thats like me saying I know what harmed white people. That doesn't make sense! I don't go pulling the race card as everyone says. But it seems as though people don't believe that people say those things, like its all made up. They have Klu Klux Klan living still down there & have rallies. They don't bother me I don't bother them. I was just stating there is racial tension down there. For your information, I am very educated & so is my family. My children is being raised to respect others and they are doing great in school!! But I am tired of the comments that are on here. U all speak of black people like we just are lazy and make up stuff all the time. But when we say that is racist then we are pulling the race card. Am I pulling it now? PLEASE!!

[Barney Frank on Uranus]

Are the those two twins?

[Marvin]

Nothing like a picture of a Black defendant to bring out the white hoods on Crime Blog:

"A person chimps out"

All the comments about how she *looks* like a bitch, criminal...

'Nuff said.

[James Hart]

For everybody who's dogging the defendant here, you should probably take a second and read the stories again. I think it's pretty clear that she acted up -- but don't you think there's a good chance that EVERYBODY misbehaved here?