A Good Samaritan in Arizona helped an apparently homeless man who wanted to buy food at a local store. This happened after the manager started recording the homeless man, prompting a TikToker to question the manager, who acted as if he was a nuisance.
TikTok user SavetheStreetz regularly advocates for America’s homeless population and the one involved in the confrontation. This time, he stood up to a manager harassing a customer just trying to buy groceries. The manager stands by, phone in hand, recording the homeless man.
He asks her, “Why are you recording him?” She replies, “I can watch whoever I want in my store.” This TikToker asked if the man did anything to warrant the recording, and she replies, “Not yet! But at least I have it on video.” Already pegging the homeless man as guilty for merely being there.
At this point, the customer and the TikToker are both in disbelief as they try to get to the bottom of things. The man says he barely made it through the front door before the manager started recording him while he shopped. He sets down his ice cream, appalled by what’s happening.
Not only did he ultimately not buy food, but the police were also involved. He gives his account to the police, with the TikToker backing him up. However, the police side with the manager and tell him he isn’t allowed in the store. The TikToker speaks up, saying, “So anyone can just trespass someone for just any reason?” The police tell him they can remove him from the store, even if he wasn’t caught stealing. They explain, “They can refuse to provide service to anybody.”
Viewers share their outrage online, condemning the manager
Not only did commenters on SavetheStreez’s TikTok video share their anger over how the homeless man was treated, but several argued it was grounds for discrimination. Many called for the Dollar Tree manager to be fired. “Profiling that poor man,” one viewer remarked.
“‘Not yet’ I would be calling a lawyer,” one viewer wrote, commenting on how the manager immediately assumed the homeless man was going to steal food. In the thread, another TikTok user tried to side with the manager, saying if he were actually going to buy it, he would have rather put the stuff away than put it down. The original commenter fired back, saying, “I would put shit down as well if someone filmed me like that,” and noted the store has cameras, too.
On the subject of discrimination, a TikTok user argued the homeless should take it further. “Man, if he has any resources to a lawyer he should sue them.”
SavetheStreez’s TikTok video really highlights how rude and mean Americans can be towards the homeless. And while the store has the right to refuse service, it’s not a good look when it’s against someone in a tough situation just trying to buy food.
