As with previous years fights have broken out across the US as customers battle for severely discounted goods. Fights have taken place at Walmart stores in Beaumont, Texas; Jordan Creek in Iowa; Johnson City in Tennessee and Rialto in California. There was also a stabbing in a Walmart car park outside Walmart in Claypool Hill, Virginia.
Tazewell County Sheriff Brian Hieatt told WVVA that two men, 61-year-old Ronnie Sharp and 35-year-old Christopher Jackson were arguing over a parking space.
The argument ended when Sharp used a knife to cut Jackson in the arm, slicing down to the bone, Sheriff Hieatt said.
Walmart spokesperson Brooke Buchanan told The Huffington Post the reported fights did not accurately depict what she said was a successful Black Friday for the retailer.
“We’ve got great feedback from customers and associates across the country,” Buchanan told The Huffington Post. “A few tweets aren’t representative of what’s actually happening at 4,600 stores.”
In 2008 a temporary Wal-Mart worker hired for the Christmas season was fatally injured as a crowd ran over him. Tension had grown high at the Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream,NY as the 5am opening neared. The crowd of more than 2,000 had became a rabble and could be held back no longer. Fists banged and shoulders pressed on the sliding glass doors which bowed with the weight of the assault. Six to ten workers tried to push back but it was hopeless. Suddenly the doors shattered and the mob surged forward worker, Jdimytai Damour, 34, was thrown back onto the black linoleum tiles and trampled in the stampede that streamed over and around him. Others who had stood alongside Mr. Damour trying to hold the doors were also hurled back and run over, witnesses said.
Detective Lt. Michael Fleming, who was in charge of the investigation for the Nassau police, said the store lacked adequate security. Wal-Mart declined to provide details of the stampede, but said in a statement that it had tried to prepare by adding staff members. Still, it was unclear how many security workers it had at the Valley Stream store for the opening.
A Wal-Mart spokesman, Dan Folgleman, called it a “tragic situation,” and said the victim had been hired from a temporary staffing agency and assigned to maintenance work. Wal-Mart, in a statement issued at its headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., said: “The safety and security of our customers and associates is our top priority. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families at this tragic time.
Wal-Mart has successfully resisted unionization of its employees. New York State’s largest grocery union, Local 1500 of the United Food and Commercial Workers, called the death of Mr. Damour “avoidable” and demanded investigations.
“Where were the safety barriers?” said Bruce Both, the union president. “Where was security? How did store management not see dangerous numbers of customers barreling down on the store in such an unsafe manner? This is not just tragic; it rises to a level of blatant irresponsibility by Wal-Mart.”
