Washington, DC members of the National Youth Rights Association staged a lively picket at 5 PM today in front of a 7-11 in the Takoma Park neighborhood of DC. The protest was in response to the posted policy of that store that banned more than 2 youth from entering the store at one time. Despite crime statistics showing adults commit twice as much shoplifting crimes as youth, this store sought fit to discriminate against a whole class of people just because of their age.



Many protesters had been victims of this policy in the past. NYRA-DC Vice-President, Alexis Grant, said “I just wanted to buy some ice cream, but they kicked me out because of my age. That’s not fair!” There is no limit to the number of adults allowed in the store, but youth are forced to wait outside in the cold and the rain. Those patient enough to get inside shop under the watchful eye of a manager who automatically suspects them of criminality.



The protest attracted activists of all ages, 36-year-old DC resident Dave Varney joined the high school protesters because the policy, he felt, was unjust and ageist. Despite much hostility from the 7-11 manager and the DC police officer who stood nearby monitoring the entire protest; passerbys were supportive. Motorists driving by during rush hour honked their support for the picketer’s cause. One stopped to say there should be a law to stop what the 7-11 was doing. In Maryland and Virginia there is, but not in the District.



According to NYRA President AKPalicz (at) youthrights.org>Alex Koroknay-Palicz this 7-11 is not unique. “Stores all across the country think its acceptable to discriminate against young people rather than think of real ways to address store security. Its not fair and in many cases illegal.” The National Youth Rights Association has worked on ageist stores like this before, successfully changing the policy of a CVS in Virginia, a 7-11 in Columbia, Maryland, a 12 store chain of grocery stores in Maryland, and half a dozen local businesses in Michigan. Since there is no anti-age discrimination law in the District NYRA-DC President youthrightsdc (at) yahoo.com>Laura Finstad organized a picket in front of the store to draw attention to the discrimination DC area teens face. She hopes this will become a monthly event and will attract the support of many more teens and adult allies throughout the region.



The light rain didn’t deter the enthusiasm of the protesters. They shouted: “I am not a criminal! Shopping is not a crime!” Shopping isn’t yet a crime, but it’ll get you thrown out on the street if you try it while under 18.