Chemist Warehouse called out by Barkaa over alleged racial profiling

• Aboriginal girl says she was ‘racially profiled’ at popular chemist
• Do you know more? Email [email protected]
• READ MORE: Aboriginal elder slams local council’s removal of ‘Acknowledgement of Country’

A young Indigenous girl has revealed how she contemplated taking her own life after she was accused of shoplifting.

Alinta, the daughter of Chloe Quayle, a popular rapper, said she was stopped by a security guard while shopping at a Chemist Warehouse store in Sydney.

‘I wanted to buy some makeup and hair products like I’m sure many other teen girls would, but at the end of my shopping spree a security guard told my mother to get the receipt for the stuff we had bought at the counter,’ she said.

‘We complied… that was until a white shopper was able to leave the store without hassle. It was then my mum instantly pointed this out and asked the security guard if he was going to ask the other shoppers for a receipt as well.

Alinta, the daughter of Chloe Quayle, a popular rapper, said she was stopped by a security guard while shopping at a Chemist Warehouse store in Sydney

She said that the security guard started threatening to involve the police simply because her mother was recording him.

‘My mother stopped recording and he proceeded to accuse me of theft. This brought me into the spotlight and all eyes were on me,’ she continued.

‘I was just painted as a criminal. My life began to crumble in those moments as I hyperventilated,’ she explained.

She explained that if her mother hadn’t stepped in to defend her, she would have allowed the security guard to pat her down in the store.

The young girl broke down as she detailed the alleged racial profiling at Chemist Warehouse

‘In desperation to prove my innocence, I dropped my bag and jacket on the floor as I sobbed,’ she said.

‘The sad thing about this is that I truly believed that I had done something wrong. I believed that maybe I had a gap in my memory or stole something by accident.

‘My dignity and self-esteem was stripped away from me in a second and for the rest of my night I cried and sobbed.

‘I even contemplated taking my own life because how could I bear to live in a world that hated me.’

Alinta said it had been her own decision to share her story to raise awareness.

‘This has happened to my mother, my grandmother and probably the whole family tree since colonisation. Nothing has changed,’ she said.

Her mother has demanded Chemist Warehouse fire the security guard allegedly responsible for the incident.

Ms Quayle was seen crying and comforting her daughter throughout the video

She has demanded Chemist Warehouse fire the security guard allegedly responsible

‘The ironic thing in it all is that my daughter also plays footy for a team that’s main sponsor is Chemist Warehouse,’ she wrote on Facebook.

‘Not only did they target an innocent Blak child and demonised her in the store, they targeted one of their players.’

She said Chemist Warehouse had contacted her about the incident, and that she had passed on her lawyer’s details.

‘So sick and tired of our babies having to beg and plead for their innocence, so sick and tired of us having to protect our babies from this before they even get the chance to fully understand how racist this country can be.

‘So sick and tired of Blak children not being seen in the same light us non-indigenous children all because of stereotypes and the severe racism.’

In a statement, Chemist Warehouse said it was aware of an incident that had occurred in one of the chain’s NSW stores.

‘Under no circumstances do we condone the ill treatment of our customers,’ it said.

‘We want to assure you that the safety and well-being of our customers and staff are our top priority and we understand the distress this incident may have caused for all those involved.

‘We are discussing further action with the security contractor in question.’

Read more