'We should be able to go to the mall'
Teen restrictions accused of hurting minorities

April 3, 2007
WAUWATOSA, Wis. -- Minority youth will be disproportionately affected by a new suburban mall's adult supervision policy, leaders of three Milwaukee organizations serving more than 1,000 urban teens say.
The new rules at Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa went into effect Friday. They require teens younger than 18 without adult supervision to leave the mall by 2 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

The mall's management insists that its Parental Guidance Required program will have colorblind enforcement.

But leaders at Running Rebels Community Organization, Urban Underground and Campaign Against Violence said they're not convinced.

''The intent of the policy is one thing; the implementation can be a whole other issue,'' said Reggie Moore, director of Urban Underground. ''As a community, we have a responsibility to look at the impact of race and how these policies will play out.''


Rally against new rules
The Campaign Against Violence rallied in protest of the new rules over the weekend.
''I think we should be able to go to the mall whenever we want,'' said Jabrel Horton, 14.

''They're just taking it overboard,'' he said. ''We need to wear clothes on our backs, too.'' AP


Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Im pretty sure they said TEENS, not MINORITIES :dunno
I really hate the flippin race card, and Im damn proud my dh doesnt use it!

aside from the race issue (since it's being played by so many now-a-days which is a whole other issue)

I'm glad they are finally putting some regulations on teens at the mall. Back in Texas when some friends and I would go to the mall (18-21 years old) we would have problems with teens (mostly 12-15) running around causing all kinds of trouble. It seems like parents use the mall as a babysitter back home. Between 4pm and 11pm at the mall we usually go to kids are everywhere. Their parents drop them off with money for a movie and dinner and they just have the run of the place. It's a bit crazy. Yes there are exceptions to this and really awesome kids that behave themselves and everything like that, but at the same time, malls shouldn't be used as babysitters on weekends. :D

This is such a great idea. I think all establishments should start restricting. Personally I am really tired of going to the mall and some stupid teen nearly knocks me or my kids over because they think they are in playground. I tell my kids all the time nice and loud that good kids do not behave like those kids in a public place.

aside from the race issue (since it's being played by so many now-a-days which is a whole other issue)

I'm glad they are finally putting some regulations on teens at the mall. Back in Texas when some friends and I would go to the mall (18-21 years old) we would have problems with teens (mostly 12-15) running around causing all kinds of trouble. It seems like parents use the mall as a babysitter back home. Between 4pm and 11pm at the mall we usually go to kids are everywhere. Their parents drop them off with money for a movie and dinner and they just have the run of the place. It's a bit crazy. Yes there are exceptions to this and really awesome kids that behave themselves and everything like that, but at the same time, malls shouldn't be used as babysitters on weekends. :D

:yes Totally agree.

So let me get this straight. Everyone BUT WHITE teens need to leave the mall?:rolleyes How did someone get race out of that new rule? It is not a race thing, it is an age thing.

What about the teens that work there?

That is some crazy stuff..The poor teenagers that know how to conduct themselves are being punished...

The article didn't mention which minorities (race..black, alien, hispanic, asian, dog, cat) so is everyone to assume their referring to blacks (urban) :roflmao

If a person is part black/hispanic, part white/black, part asian/white etc is that using a "half race card" or just "race" card... :thinking

All I see is money loss because parents can't go everywhere a teenager goes...Sad but true.... I guess they plan on carding everyone that enters the mall and pairing up people to make sure they came with that person... How silly...

JMO

So let me get this straight. Everyone BUT WHITE teens need to leave the mall?:rolleyes How did someone get race out of that new rule? It is not a race thing, it is an age thing.

What about the teens that work there?

I would think if you have legitimate business there the rule is not enforced.

I dont know... back home I never saw a problem with teens being at the mall. :dunno I used to go there all the time with my sisters and friends to just hang out cuz there really wasnt much else to do. I would hate to be a parent that HAS to go to the mall with my kid and his/her friends to watch them hang out. I guess it's because I've never had a problem with teens at the mall but I think it's kinda silly. :shrug

Maybe by minorities they actually mean "teenagers" lol Are they minorities now :shrug :giggle

The article didn't mention which minorities (race..black, alien, hispanic, asian, dog, cat) so is everyone to assume their referring to blacks (urban) :roflmao



I dont think anyone has said what race... :dunno
So if someone ASSumes black.. then that is on them, right?
Unless you think someone on here was refering to them being black?

The simplest solution would be for kids to be taught manners. But seeing as that is becoming a more and more rare thing these days banning kids from those places is the best that can be done.

The simplest solution would be for kids to be taught manners. But seeing as that is becoming a more and more rare thing these days banning kids from those places is the best that can be done.

:yes

I dont think anyone has said what race... :dunno
So if someone ASSumes black.. then that is on them, right?
Unless you think someone on here was refering to them being black?

I was talking about the article saying URBAN..not anyone on here said anything LOL Did you say your husband is part black or did I read something else? If they didn't mention anything about Black teens why would you say "im glad my husband doesn't use the race card" Just a question...Trying to understand what you meant...:D

That is some crazy stuff..The poor teenagers that know how to conduct themselves are being punished...

The article didn't mention which minorities (race..black, alien, hispanic, asian, dog, cat) so is everyone to assume their referring to blacks (urban) :roflmao

If a person is part black/hispanic, part white/black, part asian/white etc is that using a "half race card" or just "race" card... :thinking

All I see is money loss because parents can't go everywhere a teenager goes...Sad but true.... I guess they plan on carding everyone that enters the mall and pairing up people to make sure they came with that person... How silly...

JMO

girl come to the mall in my home town that'll change your mind about losing money. most of the thefts from stores were by underaged teens (under the age of 18), they are one of the reasons that the big arcade in our mall closed down (they were there at nights causing problems), etc etc. boohoo the kids don't need to be at the mall everyday anyway.

I was talking about the article saying URBAN..not anyone on here said anything LOL Did you say your husband is part black or did I read something else? If they didn't mention anything about Black teens why would you say "im glad my husband doesn't use the race card" Just a question...Trying to understand what you meant...:D

:lol

Yes, he is half black and half mexican, so I guess he can pull TWO races cards :lol
I said Im glad he doesnt use the race card, cause I am just that. Has nothing to do with him being black :wink Not just blacks use the race card. If he was Asian, I would have said the same thing. Since he is not a white guy, and we know many people from the NEWS and real life who use the race card, I am PROUD he doesnt :)

girl come to the mall in my home town that'll change your mind about losing money. most of the thefts from stores were by underaged teens (under the age of 18), they are one of the reasons that the big arcade in our mall closed down (they were there at nights causing problems), etc etc. boohoo the kids don't need to be at the mall everyday anyway.

Yup!! It is that way at the mall that I go to back home. A couple of them actually. You see pre-teens in the mall by themselves now days as well. we're talking 11-12 year olds in there with NOOOO adult supervision. That's just not right.

I see tons of kids at malls back home in Tampa, but not really causing trouble. Unfortunately there aren't that many places for teens to hang our or whatever you want to call it. They can be silly, but it's public! If it bothers me that much I will just shop online!

:lol

Yes, he is half black and half mexican, so I guess he can pull TWO races cards :lol
I said Im glad he doesnt use the race card, cause I am just that. Has nothing to do with him being black :wink Not just blacks use the race card. If he was Asian, I would have said the same thing. Since he is not a white guy, and we know many people from the NEWS and real life who use the race card, I am PROUD he doesnt :)

Got it :yeehaw

:lol

Yes, he is half black and half mexican, so I guess he can pull TWO races cards :lol
I said Im glad he doesnt use the race card, cause I am just that. Has nothing to do with him being black :wink Not just blacks use the race card. If he was Asian, I would have said the same thing. Since he is not a white guy, and we know many people from the NEWS and real life who use the race card, I am PROUD he doesnt :)

One of my co workers is black/mexican. He proudly walks around saying that he is Blaxican! Everybody at work just falls out when he does that:lol Here in GA, The teen population will actually block the doors to the mall so you cannot get in, It's an intimidation tactic that they think is funny, but I just stare them down. I wish we had a mall curfew here.

If they are going to enforce this without any discrimination, then I agree with it. One of the reasons I don't like malls is because of the amount of teenagers. Many aren't causing problems but there is still a good amount that do. Weekend nights seem to be the worst.

They may not all be causing problems, but it's still considered loitering. I think a curfew is an excellent idea though I see flaws in how it will be implemented. What about kids who come with parents but are then allowed to run amuck... how will a child prove to security their parent is actually in the mall. Detain them? Surely they wouldn't want to be responsible for removing a minor from the premesis and having something bad happen. Smells like a lawsuit to me, but good for them for attempting to do something about the problem instead of looking the other way. Pretty sad someone has to pull the race card when they don't like the rules that in actuality apply to EVERYONE.

Our malls are implementing a curfew at the mall. I totally agree with it. Nothing worse than trying to go shopping and having a bunch of non-economic supporting kids clogging up the mall 'hanging out'.....Anyone under 17 has to be with a parent/adult over the age of 21 to be in the mall after 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays. This policy has increased sales, and decreased problems at the Mall.