Group Calls for Boycott of Harlem's American Apparel Store

A group of Harlem protesters is calling for a boycott of the American Apparel outlet on West 125th Street in Harlem, asserting that the store failed to abide by a request made of Harlem merchants to close for three hours last Tuesday, in observance of Malcolm X’s May 19 birthday.

Malcolm X, the civil rights activist who was assassinated in Harlem in 1965, at age 39, would have turned 84 this month. In his memory, a group called the Malcolm X New Millennium Committee held a march and requested that businesses along 125th Street, Central Harlem’s main thoroughfare, close from 1 to 4 p.m.

“It’s really like a moment of silence,” said Omowale Clay, a member of the committee. The group makes a point of alerts businesses ahead of time, he said. “We hand-delivered the letter.”

The American Apparel store opened within the last year, and a spokeswoman for the clothing chain, Emily Nerad, said that the management of the store was not aware of the request. “We want to apologize for any offense taken by marchers who thought American Apparel was not in support of their rally for Malcolm X,” she wrote in an e-mail message. “Unfortunately, we did not receive advance notice about closing. Once the marchers reached our store in Harlem, the manager immediately closed the store.”

The march, now in its 20th year, has drawn criticism in the past from shop owners who complained that they felt pressured and harassed to close. Store owners argued they don’t necessarily close for other holidays, like the Fourth of July or Christmas, and yet feel intimidated by the marchers. Last week, as in some years past, some store owners rolled down their gates as the marchers passed.

On Saturday afternoon, a group of about 20 people gathered in front of the Harlem American Apparel store waving red, black and green flags, which represent black liberation, and chanting: “No disrespect. For Malcolm X.” The protesters also handed out fliers drawing attention to the recent $5 million settlement between American Apparel, which is known for its provocative ads, and Woody Allen, who had sued the company for the unauthorized use of his his image in an advertisement.


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