whiners in Australia too.
Whoa, Johnny Boey is back?
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/jb-hifi-accused-of-blocking-man-with-down-syndrome-20150921-gjrxl3.html
Electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi has apologised and is investigating accusations a Brisbane store refused entry to a young man with Down syndrome.
A Facebook post written by the man's sister has gone viral, attracting more than 48,000 shares and 18,000 comments on the social media site.
Victoria Milne claimed her brother James was blocked by a security guard from entering the Mt Ommaney store on Monday.
Victoria Milne and her brother James, who was allegedly blocked from entering the JB Hi-Fi at Mt Ommaney.
Victoria Milne and her brother James, who was allegedly blocked from entering the JB Hi-Fi at Mt Ommaney. Photo: Facebook
Ms Milne has been contacted for comment.
"My dad, confused, asked 'Why not?' and the security guard said that he had my brother's photo and he wasn't allowed in," she wrote on Facebook.
"When my dad and the manager [were] shown a photo of a white male who also had Down's syndrome, my dad said it's clearly not James, who has olive skin, and the manager replied 'Well they look the same'."
Ms Milne said her brother became visibly upset and her father took him home.
James' father Daryl Milne told Channel Nine on Tuesday he was shocked.
"We haven't been in that store for ages, I couldn't believe why he wouldn't be allowed in there," he said.
"Then the security guard showed me the picture and I said 'That's not James', I could just tell straight away. But that was it, he'd made his mind up, he didn't want James in the shop."
Ms Milne said she didn't think these kinds of incidents happened.
"Mum called up the manager of the store demanding that he apologise to her son, to which he replied that 'he would never, ever, ever get an apology' from him and that he had 'the right to stop anyone he pleased from entering the store'," she wrote.
"I have never been so disgusted and mad in my life."
On Tuesday, JB Hi-Fi CEO Richard Murray posted an apology on the retailer's Facebook page.
"JB Hi-Fi apologises for any distress caused to James and his family," he wrote.
"We take feedback from our customers very seriously. We are investigating this matter.
"JB Hi-Fi is seeking to make contact with the family involved."
Ms Milne described her brother as "the sweetest boy, who is still in love with The Wiggles and Ben 10."
Down syndrome is a genetic condition in which those affected have an extra chromosome in their cells.
Around 270 babies are born with Down syndrome each year in Australia.
Commenters on Ms Milne's original post have expressed anger over the incident and called for the manager to apologise and be sacked.
They have also inundated JB Hi-Fi's Facebook page with angry pledges to boycott the company's stores.
Ipswich councillor Paul Tully has set up a Change.org petition on behalf of James Milne.
"The manager is today refusing to take calls from the public or media.It has been referred to the company's Head Office," he said.
"This is un-Australian and disgraceful. I am urging the family to take legal action against this appalling decision."
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Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/jb-hifi-accused-of-blocking-man-with-down-syndrome-20150921-gjrxl3.html#ixzz3mR5tykJ6
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Electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi has apologised and is investigating accusations a Brisbane store refused entry to a young man with Down syndrome.
A Facebook post written by the man's sister has gone viral, attracting more than 48,000 shares and 18,000 comments on the social media site.
Victoria Milne claimed her brother James was blocked by a security guard from entering the Mt Ommaney store on Monday.
Victoria Milne and her brother James, who was allegedly blocked from entering the JB Hi-Fi at Mt Ommaney.
Victoria Milne and her brother James, who was allegedly blocked from entering the JB Hi-Fi at Mt Ommaney. Photo: Facebook
Ms Milne has been contacted for comment.
"My dad, confused, asked 'Why not?' and the security guard said that he had my brother's photo and he wasn't allowed in," she wrote on Facebook.
"When my dad and the manager [were] shown a photo of a white male who also had Down's syndrome, my dad said it's clearly not James, who has olive skin, and the manager replied 'Well they look the same'."
Ms Milne said her brother became visibly upset and her father took him home.
James' father Daryl Milne told Channel Nine on Tuesday he was shocked.
"We haven't been in that store for ages, I couldn't believe why he wouldn't be allowed in there," he said.
"Then the security guard showed me the picture and I said 'That's not James', I could just tell straight away. But that was it, he'd made his mind up, he didn't want James in the shop."
Ms Milne said she didn't think these kinds of incidents happened.
"Mum called up the manager of the store demanding that he apologise to her son, to which he replied that 'he would never, ever, ever get an apology' from him and that he had 'the right to stop anyone he pleased from entering the store'," she wrote.
"I have never been so disgusted and mad in my life."
On Tuesday, JB Hi-Fi CEO Richard Murray posted an apology on the retailer's Facebook page.
"JB Hi-Fi apologises for any distress caused to James and his family," he wrote.
"We take feedback from our customers very seriously. We are investigating this matter.
"JB Hi-Fi is seeking to make contact with the family involved."
Ms Milne described her brother as "the sweetest boy, who is still in love with The Wiggles and Ben 10."
Down syndrome is a genetic condition in which those affected have an extra chromosome in their cells.
Around 270 babies are born with Down syndrome each year in Australia.
Commenters on Ms Milne's original post have expressed anger over the incident and called for the manager to apologise and be sacked.
They have also inundated JB Hi-Fi's Facebook page with angry pledges to boycott the company's stores.
Ipswich councillor Paul Tully has set up a Change.org petition on behalf of James Milne.
"The manager is today refusing to take calls from the public or media.It has been referred to the company's Head Office," he said.
"This is un-Australian and disgraceful. I am urging the family to take legal action against this appalling decision."
Like Brisbane Times on Facebook
Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/jb-hifi-accused-of-blocking-man-with-down-syndrome-20150921-gjrxl3.html#ixzz3mR5tykJ6
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