December 21st 2024.
Last year, a well-respected minister, civil rights activist, and theology professor from North Carolina found himself in a difficult situation. Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II was at the Greenville location of AMC Theaters with his 90-year-old mother to watch The Color Purple the day after Christmas. However, instead of enjoying the film, he was escorted out of the theater due to his special wheelchair being deemed a fire hazard.
According to WITN, Barber took legal action against AMC, claiming that he was discriminated against because of his wheelchair. As an individual with a severe spinal condition, his wheelchair is a necessary accompaniment for his mobility. His attorney, Harry Daniels, expressed that Barber was deeply embarrassed and subjected to unjust treatment by the theater employees during a press conference on December 19th.
Barber himself was also deeply affected by the incident. Not only was he unable to watch the movie with his mother, but he also felt that the experience was a violation of his rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. As a former North Carolina NAACP President and civil rights activist, Barber is no stranger to advocating for justice. He shared that he met with AMC's chairman and CEO shortly after the incident, but his main focus is not personal gain. Instead, he hopes to bring attention to the discrimination faced by individuals with disabilities and seek justice for them.
In his lawsuit, Barber is requesting damages exceeding $25,000 for mental and emotional distress. He also hopes to obtain a preliminary injunction to prevent AMC from prohibiting him or others from bringing their wheelchairs to any of their locations and to stop any form of retaliation against those who exercise their rights. As the founding director of the Center for Public Theology & Public Policy at Yale Divinity School, Barber wants to ensure that everyone, regardless of their disabilities, is treated with dignity and respect.
During a press conference, Barber expressed his belief that disabilities do not make an individual deficient. He stated, "Whatever your disability is, you may be disabled, but you are not deficient. You are as much a part of this human family as anybody else." Despite the formal apology issued by AMC at the time of the incident and their promise to review their policies, Barber is determined to bring about meaningful change for individuals with disabilities.
In response to the incident, AMC has expressed their sincere apologies to Barber and his family. A spokesperson for the theater chain acknowledged the frustration and inconvenience caused and promised to review their policies to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future. This incident has also brought attention to the need for better accessibility and accommodation for individuals with disabilities in public spaces.
In a related note, AMC's stock received a boost following the announcement of Beyoncé's upcoming film Renaissance: A Film. This serves as a reminder that inclusivity and representation of all individuals, including those with disabilities, can have a positive impact on society as a whole.
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