In America, no one should have to face suppression

To the Editor:

When I moved into the Guilderland community from Washington, D.C. 18 months ago, I was thrilled to have a grocery store, Market 32, right next door to my apartment complex on Route 20. It felt like I was back in the city again. For the first year I lived here, since I work from home, I went to the supermarket all the time, pretty much daily for lunch — spending on average about $200 per week between groceries and the café.

My excited energy about Market 32 has turned into disgust. On Oct. 12, on the last day available to register to vote in the state of New York, I had been wandering around the community on my usual route along that plaza. I walk five miles a day, and I hit up every single store there — the grocery store, the Starbucks, the Dollar Store, etc.

Everyone has gotten to know me as a regular shopper in the plaza. That day, when I passed people, I asked them if they were aware it was the last day to register to vote. It seemed like no one was taking any issue with it while I continued my walk. People were saluting me and crying that I was taking the initiative to even ask them.

At Market 32, it was a different story from all the other stores. As I ordered my usual special-order sushi that I get nearly every day from that supermarket, I asked the chef if he was registered. I spoke with other customers in the line and outside as I ate my sushi and drank my water.

Having worked many customer-service jobs as well as working in D.C. as protest consultant, I understand solicitation laws quite well. I had no petition. I had nothing to register. I was simply striking up a community conversation with other customers in my backyard neighborhood.

It is not illegal to mention the word voting inside or outside the grocery store. However, as I left the store and headed on toward the Dollar Store, I was confronted by an angry manager, named Josh, who was telling me to leave his store. I told him I already left.

Between he and another man who was with him, they were screaming MAGA [Make America Great Again] at me and telling me they were going to call the police. I said, as far as I know, I am not doing anything wrong.

Having a conversation about voting is not soliciting. I am not asking people to do anything or take any action. I found it appalling that in America that I would be asked to leave a grocery store where I shop all the time simply for talking about voting.

If Market 32 wants to ask me to leave, that is its right as a business; however, I assured them it would be a disaster for their public relations and pocketbook. It is also my right to tell the public and to not shop there ever again.

Since I have a background in media relations, I called the store public relations officer Mona Golub immediately. I was referred to several corporate representatives, but as far as I know there have been no consequences for this manager who thought it was appropriate to treat a customer this way simply for talking about voting.

I am an active resident, and I volunteer a lot in the community. I often go on supermarket spending sprees to donate to food banks especially in the fall around Halloween and Thanksgiving. I will no longer do it here. This supermarket does not represent my values, and I will no longer shop here.

In America, no one should have to face suppression like this simply for talking about voting in a grocery store. It is a shame to live next door to a supermarket I will never visit again. I will tell everyone I know that Market 32 appears to support voter suppression.

Patricia Brooks

Guilderland

Editor’s note: See related story.

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