A disabled civil rights leader, Rev. William J. Barber II, was escorted out of an AMC theater in Greenville, North Carolina, by police earlier this week due to issues related to his disability accommodations.
On Tuesday, Rev. Barber, aged 60, accompanied by his 90-year-old mother, attended a screening of ‘The Color Purple.’ He brought his own chair to the theater because he suffers from ankylosing spondylitis, a rare form of arthritis that makes it difficult for him to use low chairs. According to Barber, he placed his chair in a designated section for guests with disabilities. However, theater employees considered it a “fire hazard,” leading to his removal from the theater by law enforcement.
Barber shared these details during a press conference on Friday, shedding light on the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities when seeking accommodation in public spaces. The incident highlights the ongoing need for awareness and understanding regarding disability accommodations and inclusivity.
The former president of the North Carolina NAACP and civil rights leader, Rev. William J. Barber II, was escorted out of an AMC theater in Greenville, North Carolina, by police earlier this week due to a seating issue related to his disability. A disabled civil rights
Rev. Barber, aged 60, attended a screening of ‘The Color Purple’ on Tuesday with his 90-year-old mother. Because of his rare form of arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, he brought his own chair to the theater, finding it challenging to use low chairs. Barber placed his chair in a section designated for guests with disabilities, but theater employees deemed it a “fire hazard,” leading them to call the police instead of accommodating his visible disability.
During a press conference on Friday, Barber expressed his disappointment, stating, “Our plans were interrupted when the managers of the AMC theater here in Greenville chose to call the police rather than accommodate my visible disability.” A Greenville police supervisor responded to the call, citing trespassing and an argument with employees as the reasons for removal.
Barber highlighted the potential consequences of describing a Black man as “arguing” and “trespassing,” emphasizing that such language could have negative outcomes. Despite believing the situation should not have escalated to police involvement, Barber commended the police officer for handling it appropriately upon arrival.
A video posted on Facebook the same day of the incident shows Barber agreeing to leave the theater when asked by the officer. Outside the theater, he shook the officer’s hand, who later apologized to Barber. Barber reiterated that his chair had accompanied him to various places, including the White House and Broadway shows. The incident underscores ongoing challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in seeking accommodation and understanding in public spaces.
The chief of the Greenville Police Department reached out to Barber asking to meet him and talk about the situation, Barber said during the press conference. The department did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
According to ABC11, AMC apologized to Barber on Wednesday and said it plans to review its policies to “ensure that situations like this do not occur again.”