UPDATE 07/16/18: CVS Health Corp. has officially released an apology to the black woman who had the police called on her after she was accused of using a counterfeit coupon. As ABC News reports, the two employees who were involved with the incident "are no longer employed by CVS Health." The national drugstore chain let go the employees after Camillia Hudson posted a cellphone video on Facebook wherein one of them called 911 on her.
"We have sincerely apologized to Ms. Hudson for her experience in our Chicago stores," the company said in the statement. "Our Region Director in Chicago contacted her as soon as we were made aware of the incident. We have completed our investigation, and as a result the two colleagues who were involved are no longer employed by CVS Health." Read the original post below.
ORIGINAL POST: The manager of a CVS in Chicago called the police on a black woman for trying to use a manufacturer’s coupon, reports Chicago Sun-Times. The manager claimed he had never seen a coupon like that before, which prompted him to call the police.
Camilla Hudson wrote in a Facebook post, "So, THIS just happened: I had the police called on me for attempting to use a coupon @ the CVS Pharmacy located at 6150 N. Broadway in Chicago!"
Hudson said she had to remove her original post on the incident because it violated a Facebook policy, but she reposted the footage she took at the store and her statement. In the video Hudson recorded the manager, Morry Matson, calling the police, describing her as African-American. She said to him, "I’m black. Black isn’t a bad word." Matson was visibly shaking while he was on the phone.
Matson is running for the 48th Ward alderman. According to the Sun-Times, he promised during his campaign for "increased police presence throughout Alderman Matson’s 48th Ward." His campaign website also reportedly stated that he was a state delegate for Donald Trump in the 2016 election and is currently president of the Log Cabin Republicans of Illinois. His campaign website has since been deactivated.
Hudson said she spoke with three police officers that showed up before leaving the store.
In a statement, CVS spokesperson Mike DeAngelis said, "We sincerely apologize to Ms. Hudson for her experience in one of our stores. Our Region Director in Chicago contacted Ms. Hudson as soon as we were made aware of this incident. CVS has begun an investigation and we will take any corrective action that is warranted to prevent it from happening again. CVS Pharmacy does not tolerate any practices that discriminate against any customer and we are committed to maintaining a welcoming and diverse environment in our stores. We have firm non-discrimination policies in place to help ensure that all customers are treated with respect and dignity. Profiling or any other type of discriminatory behavior is strictly prohibited."
Hudson also said to the Sun-Times that CVS regional director Joe Haas "apologized profusely."
