Living in the U.S. grants citizens certain freedoms, such as the freedom of speech and the right to a peaceful protest. Somewhere between these rights is the right to confirm one’s safety before shopping at a store. When Los Angeles local and activist Kuali did just this at Home Depot, she wasn’t just turned away. She was kicked out of the store, threatened, and accused of harassment.
The accusations are wild and borderline hypocritical, considering the state of ICE’s actions toward people in the last few months. In the video Kuali posted, you can see her standing in front of a cop as he tells her that what she did is harassment. As he escorts her out of the store, he proceeds to laugh, making a mockery of a serious situation.
“I can record you. This is public, and I’m being asked to leave for harassment,” Kuali says. “I’m being asked to leave because I asked about ICE, if ICE was here at Home Depot today. And he said that it is harassment, that Home Depot management says I am harassing customers because I asked if ICE was here.” As she’s escorted to the exit, she continues, saying, “So they’re gaslighting me, saying that I am harassing somebody because I asked if ICE was on the property.”
When Kuali explains that she was shopping and looking for a price check, the cop behind her keeps laughing. He accuses her of not shopping and insists on her “harassment.” Kuali then says that when she stepped outside to check her phone, she was threatened by Home Depot management. “So Home Depot management is complicit with ICE, because they’re kicking me out and threatening me with harassment and three years, if I don’t leave.”
Kuali, who goes by @kuali.indigenous on Instagram, is a well-known activist. This is not the first time she’s raised the alarm about ICE, despite threats from agents. Her post received overwhelming support on Reddit, with many encouraging a Home Depot take-down. “Time to take down Home Depot like y’all did for Tesla. Boycott, divest, make it shameful for anyone to do business with or invest in this company,” one user rallies.
