NBA Player John Henson Says Luxe Jewelry Store, Police Racially Profiled Him

Milwaukee Bucks center John Henson is bringing attention to a recent incident where he was racially profiled, calling it one of the most “degrading” experiences of his life.

According to ESPN, Henson was approaching the doors of Schwanke-Kasten, a luxury Wisconsin jewelry store, when he was barred from entering the store. Henson, who was shopping for a watch, wrote in an Instagram post that the employees locked the doors and hid in the back of the store. While he was ringing the doorbell, two police officers approached him and began questioning his vehicle. They ran his plates before telling store employees that it was okay to let him in.

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“This was one of the most degrading and racially prejudice things I’ve ever experienced and wouldn’t wish this on anyone,” he wrote on Instagram. “This store needs to be called out, and that’s what I’m doing. You have no right to profile someone because of their race and nationality, and this incident needs to be brought to light.”

Jewelry store owner Thomas Dixon claims that employees put the store on lockdown because of an alert they had received about a suspect driving a certain type of car. Dixon later said that he regretted how his employees handled the situation.