UPDATE, 12/3/08: Trampled Man's Family Sues Wal-Mart
You know, sometimes I feel that America gets what it deserves.
I'm no Karma guru, but I've long felt that you get back what you put out and a nation whose culture is so obsessed with having "stuff" is destined to have problems like our current economic debacle.
But when America actually becomes so hell-bent on the day-after-Thanksgiving sale, traditionally known in retail circles as "Black Friday" that we actually kill a man so that we can get that new iPod or flat screen TV, then we deserve an economic depression.I'm not pissed at all of America, just the bird-brain shoppers who broke the doors down at a Valley Stream, NY Walmart to get in as it opened, and trampled 34-year-old Jdimypai Damour, a store worker, to death.
What's worse, nobody even stopped to help him as he lay on the floor in his last moments.
Instead, the $199 XBox was more important than a man's life. ...
Reportedly, as they tried to clear the area and get some type of order, customers complained about having stood in line all night, having little regard to what they had wrought. Man, talk about heartless...I could probably get more love wearing a dashiki at a Klan cross burning.
If you were in the crowd responsible for this tragedy and you wind up reading this, I hope whatever you purchased breaks, malfunctions or gets ruined in some way. Your brand new flannel sheet set or DVD player was not worth this man's life. Of course you had no idea things would come to this, but why in the hell would you literally break a door down to get into a store with more inventory than you can count?
As for Walmart, Sam Walton's bastardization of free market capitalism, I would like nothing more than to see them face legal consequences for inciting this tragedy.
I'll probably do my Christmas shopping online this year, it's quicker, more efficient, and clearly less deadly.
More Coverage
+ Fatal Friday - End These Deadly Doorbusters
+ AOL NEWS: Charges Are Tricky in Trampling Death
Comments: (38)
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By: jessy4kym on 12/01/2008 10:11AM
On black friday i did my shopping online. from hearing peoples experience of a black friday,i would never ever go out and wait in line,for what???
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By: Lindashining on 12/01/2008 10:27AM
My Prayers goes out to the family of this Man. I Never go to a Sale,that when they get rid of a bunch of shit-Shit people do not really need you are so right.
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By: reeree on 12/01/2008 10:26AM
what i think the store should to do give each customers a ticket and have all the sales items in a department and call the the ticket number in ask the customers what items that they getting of a big today like that have doors come up automatics in no employers will get hurt
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By: Chaise on 12/01/2008 10:47AM
This story is down right heartbreaking. I stopped that Black Friday ish over 15 years ago. I stood in what appeared to be endless lines, and parking was practically non-existant with folks literally fighting for parking spaces. I ended up only saving $12.00 and some change and I felt like a dang fool. Granted $12.00 is a whole lot of money for some people, but for me, it truly wasn't worth it. Lord knows these stores will tempt you. A store once offered $15.00 DVD players about 5 years ago for the 1st 45 customers. I stuck to my guns that it wasn't worth standing outside in the cold and dark for hours with the possibility of being trampled. Sometimes when you take everything into account, what appears to be a bargain really isn't.
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By: Chaise on 12/01/2008 3:16PM
This story is down right heartbreaking. I stopped that Black Friday ish over 15 years ago. I stood in what appeared to be endless lines, and parking was practically non-existant with folks literally fighting for parking spaces. I ended up only saving $12.00 and some change and I felt like a dang fool. Granted $12.00 is a whole lot of money for some people, but for me, it truly wasn't worth it. Lord knows these stores will tempt you. A store once offered $15.00 DVD players about 5 years ago for the 1st 45 customers. I stuck to my guns that it wasn't worth standing outside in the cold and dark for hours with the possibility of being trampled. Sometimes when you take everything into account, what appears to be a bargain really isn't.
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By: Sarah on 12/01/2008 12:31PM
I just cant understand how people can act like this. People have told me there is nothing anyone can do in a mob situation like that but I think thats a bunch of crap. If I saw a person on the floor being trampled and I could not push the crowd back, I would start punching anyone that I could. this would distract people from rushing in and might open up just enough space for someone to help the guy up. also, someone should have screemed into the intercom saying that if they did not stop, they would be shot and then fire a shot into the ceiling (walmart sells guns and ammo so they cant say they didnt have access). this would slow people down at the very least. some people may think this would be too drastic, but why not try everything you can to save a life?
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By: vicky bruno on 12/01/2008 1:37PM
My heart goes out to the gentleman's family. I think stores have to have enough security and some sort of a number system in place. I absolutely refuse to go shopping on black friday. I do not want to fight with anyone at 5am! I do want to deal with the pushing, shoving and rudeness of people. I don't like fighting for parking spaces either. Personally, I tend to save money on items right before christmas and even the day after. As always, you won't see me there on black friday.
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By: Tina on 12/01/2008 4:12PM
A man's life is over for what? Black Friday was never suppose to get this serious. I hope he has a special place in heaven wow. This is going to hit Walmart's pockets deep or we'll probably hear about some out of court settlement. I have never been a part of a mob or seen one so I don't know how it is to be in one. But I think it's real sad when people act like a stampeede of bulls running from fire!!! Since you reap what you sow; I feel s little sorry for that crowd too. My prayers are with the families; my condolences. Now, I see online shopping in a whole new light.
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By: coco on 12/01/2008 6:07PM
This is surely the signs that we are truly living in the last days. It is truly sad that material things are more important than a person's life. Those people knew that man was down there, but they continued to act like wild savage beast, I wondered how well they were able to lay down and sleep, while this mans family grieving over this tragedy. come sunday morning lets see how fast you bust through the doors of the church and ask god for forgiveness, My heartfelt prayers go out to this mans family that god will give them strenght during this difficult time.
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By: Keisha on 12/07/2008 11:02PM
I can't believe it! With all that has happened this year. With families losing their homes to countless fires and flooding. With so many people losing their homes to the economic crisis and thier jobs! To be so caught up in trying to blow off some money on a game system is ridiculous! We should be looking to help others out. There is enough to go around for everyone, if everyone knew how to spread what they had and not be so darn shelfish! I can't even imagine the people who might have been ignorant enough to bring their children with them. I pray for our society. I pray for our world. I pray for true change.
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