A white Toronto store owner is facing backlash after she allegedly locked a Black woman inside her shop and falsely accused her of theft, an action many have deemed racist.
Symone Sparks and her partner, Demi, visited Bloor Optical after they completed an eye exam at a clinic in the neighborhood.
According to reports, when they visited the shop, the white store owner identified as Dragana Kljajic blocked the door and refused to let them leave.
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“What happened? You think I took something from you?” Sparks is heard asking in a TikTok video that has now gone viral. Kljajic responded with a shrug and said, “I don’t know,” as she stood in front of the door.
@saiyan_sy Replying to @Sosa Pt 2 of my incounter with miss finster at bloor optical! #blooroptical #racistcompanies #fyp #torontoracist #racistoftheday #torontolife ♬ original sound – Saiyan_sy
Sparks continued to challenge Kljajic and said: “You just locked the door, and you locked me in here, and you said I took something from you. That’s crazy. I’m coming here to buy things from you. Why would I steal from you?”
Demi added that the pair had just undergone an eye exam next door and urged the staff to check the store’s surveillance cameras to prove their innocence.
Sparks even offered to have her clothes searched before suggesting to call the police.
The room then got quiet for a few minutes after Sparks realized it was turning into a racist confrontation. “Is it because I’m Black? Is that the problem?”
Tensions then escalated and a white male customer intervened and told Kljajic her actions were far from right.
“It’s against the law, and you’re confining them, which is also against the law. This is racism.”
At one point, Sparks stated that the only glasses she had were the ones she came in with and reiterated her innocence.
After the incident, Sparks and Demi called 911 but were told their situation did not qualify as an emergency.
They then later took to the police station to file a report.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many condemning the store owner’s actions.
Supporters have however urged the Black woman to take legal action against the white store owner.
“Contact a lawyer and see if you can sue! They can’t confine you and embarrass you!” one commenter wrote. “Why would someone steal frames that aren’t even prescription to their eyes?”, another added.
“The fact that she even locked the door with people inside is against the law. Holding you hostage is also not allowed,” a third said.
Sparks later launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover legal costs, and shared her experience in a heartfelt post.
“Hi, my name is Symone Sparks, and I’m sharing my story to ask for help after a traumatic experience that left me shaken and vulnerable,” she wrote.
She described the ordeal as a “painful reminder of the racism and discrimination that Black individuals, especially Black queer women like myself, continue to face daily.”
The campaign has since raised 330 CAD toward its $12,000 goal, and Sparks revealed that the funds will help her cover legal fees and consultations.
“It was unjust, and no one should ever have to endure such treatment,” she added.
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Officials have not confirmed whether an investigation into the incident has begun and Bloor Optical has also not left a comment on the matter.
