By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-05 22:46:57 | Updated at 2024-12-24 13:43:32
2 weeks ago
A white Toronto store owner is under fire amid accusations that she locked a Black woman inside her shop after falsely accusing her of stealing.
Symone Sparks was browsing inside Bloor Optical along with her female partner, Demi when suddenly the store's storekeeper, believed to be a woman named Dragana Kljajic, blocked the entry door and did not let them leave.
'What happened? You think I took something from you,' Sparks can be heard asking in a now viral TikTok.
To which Kljajic shrugs her shoulder and says, 'I don't know' as she continued to stand in front of the door.
Sparks quickly retorts back and questions: 'You just locked the door, and you locked me in here, and you said I took something from you.
'That’s crazy. I’m coming here to buy things from you. Why would I steal from you?'
At the same time, Demi tells Kljajic and the other customers that the couple had just been to an eye exam next door before visiting the optical store.
The pair were also heard asking other employees if there were cameras in there store and whether they can be reviewed to prove their innocence.
Symone Sparks was browsing inside Bloor Optical along with her female partner, Demi when suddenly the store's storekeeper blocked the entry door and did not let them leave
Sparks also asks one of the other white female employees if she would like to check her clothes and suggests calling the police.
After seconds of silence, Sparks demanded to know: 'Is it because I’m Black? Is that the problem?' as her partner suggests leaving the store.
As the couple demanded to call the cops, a white male customer intervened and tells Kljajic: 'It’s against the law, and you’re confining them, which is also against the law. This is racism.
At one point, Sparks tells someone in the room that she tried on one pair of glasses and had put them back. The only pair she had with her were the ones she came in with.
In another video, the falsely accused woman is seen patting herself and saying that she had not stolen any item from the store.
After the incident, Sparks and Demi called 911 and explained the ordeal.
However, the dispatcher informed them that their case was not an emergency and they were forced to visit a police station to file a report.
Since then, TikTokers have come together to show support for the couple and praised the man who stood up for them them.
The owner, believed to be a woman named Dragana Kljajic, was seen blocking the entry door and not letting them leave in the now viral TikTok
'Contact a lawyer and see if you can sue! They can’t confine you and embarrass you!,' one suggested.
While another inquired: 'why would someone steal frames that aren't even a prescription to their eyes? I don't understand it?'
One also added: 'The fact that she even locked the door with people inside is against the law. Holding you hostage is also not allowed.'
'That man at the front thank you for saying something! So many times people sit back and say nothing. Sorry this happened to you guys,' another quipped.
One viewer also emphasized: 'Them locking you in the store is CRAZY. I hope the cops charged them for that at least. I’m so sorry this happened to you. Loved that you stood your ground and that man for also speaking up!'
'Oh bless that sweet man!! Too many people won’t speak up and it’s maddening!,' another also chimed.
Soon after, Sparks launched a GoFundMe to help finance her legal costs.
'Hi, my name is Symone Sparks, and I’m sharing my story to ask for help after a traumatic experience that left me shaken and vulnerable. On a beautiful Saturday morning, my partner and I were racially profiled, humiliated, discriminated against while shopping at an optical store in Bloor West Village, Toronto.
Sparks has since launched a GoFundMe to help finance her legal costs
'During a routine transaction, I was accused of stealing when a store employee approached me and locked me in the store. The situation escalated quickly, and I was trapped inside, harassed, and made to feel unsafe. At one point, I felt so cornered and vulnerable that I even considered stripping off my clothes just to prove I wasn’t stealing.
'This experience has been a painful reminder of the racism and discrimination that Black individuals, especially Black queer women like myself, continue to face daily.
'As many of you may have seen in videos shared online, what happened to me was unjust, and no one should ever have to endure such treatment.
'We are now seeking legal action against the store involved, and this process is both emotionally and financially draining. Legal fees, consultations, and the time it will take to seek justice are adding up quickly.
'I am asking for your support in helping us cover these legal expenses so we can hold those responsible accountable,' she passionately wrote.
As of now, the crowdfunding page has raised $330 CAD out of its $12,000 goal.
It remains unclear if officials have begun an investigation into the case.
