'They're thinking I was trying to vandalize my own store': Black business owner recounts looting, police response

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The owner says no police showed up to stop the looting at his shop, but 15 officers appeared while he was cleaning it up. 'I was with three black men and 15 police come to us and they're thinking I was trying to vandalize my own store.'

"All my money, I had I put into the store," Zola Dias, 38, told ABC News."And now I don't have a choice: It's over."

Dias said he supports the demonstrations over the killing of Floyd, but added,"We have people protesting, and we have people who just want to vandalize. It's two different things." Dias said right now it's looking like he'll have to close, as he's still behind on rent from when the store was recently closed. But he's not giving up hope, trying to raise funds to reopen via a GoFundMe page. He said that while he has insurance"it doesn't cover everything."

"I'm just hearing glass break ... I hear people screaming and yelling," he said."And then I hear gunshots." "I understand what's going on in our world right now -- I am a young black male who has been dealing with police since I was at a young age," he said."I've been dealing with that my entire life and having the fear of the police, it sucks."

Attom Shop in Atlanta, Georgia, before it was looted during the protests over the death of George Floyd.Shelby's been at the store since the first day it opened in 2016, and said it's always strived to be a part of the community.

 

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Dude's wearing a KISS shirt. I like him already.

We all should be treated equal, I'm not against protesters, I'm against rioters, I'm not against the police, I'm against the abuse of power, we don't want violence, we want to be listened. WE WANT JUSTICE!

No estamos en contra de los protestantes, estamos en contra de los violentos, no estamos en contra de los policías, estamos en contra del abuso de poder. No queremos violencia, queremos ser escuchados, QUEREMOS JUSTICIA! Justice

In other words cops are useless

Whaaaatt Outrageous.

Maybe they were afraid they'd get fired?

I Have Never Felt Such Utter Contempt Towards An Individual As I Do Donald Trump. The Anger Boils As I'm Forced To Watch Him Dismantle Everything That Was Fair & Just In Our Government & Spread Hate In The Name Of Our Once Great Nation With Impunity. How Much More Can We Endure?

Violence never solves anything. If we're going to ignore the looters and violent element then we gotta remember the victims we forgot avout

ABC and MSM is THE PROBLEM!!!

Honestly at that moment speculations are used! Just like when 911 we all went through huge screening to go on board a plane in any airport! Stop being over sensitive! Looting and rioting - harming workplaces and business owners caused this!

Constant racial division being pushed by the media. Every single day.

The United States pays the sins of innocent babies and children he killed in time

What happened to what Trump said that he would make this country safer? Another promise not delivered ...

Once or twice is an hon mistake, but when it happens over and over again..enemy action.

Imagine if it wasn’t vandalized in the first place 🤯

So sad we must do better. blm

An instant judgement before the facts were known or the person identified. It's called in this case being stereotyped. The wrong perceived move could have gotten this man killed.

Nothing but race baiting on the news this morning.

Does the Enemy of The People ever report on ANYTHING that does not paint police in bad light? Why are they seriously acting like the enemy?

Why show up? These were 'peaceful' protesters according to MSM. I am waiting for peaceful vandals, peaceful rapists, peaceful carjackers, peaceful robbers, et al. I am so sorry for the looting that took place at Dias' shop but you should look at your coverage & figure out why.

I'm not against protesters, I'm against rioters, I'm not against the police, I'm against the abuse of power, we don't want violence, we want to be listened. WE WANT JUSTICE!

So now you are blaming the police officers ABC & THE REST OF MSM ARE DISGRACEFUL PIECE OF S**T! Never mind ANTIFA, RIGHT?.. ARE DEMS BIDEN SOROS & MSM PAYING OTHERS TO DO THEIR CRIMES? TURN THEM IN

This is what happens when city and state leaders refuse to call up assistance from their National Guard. The police in some areas were told to stand down. So sad that so many people lost their businesses. Don't let media spin incite any further tensions.☮️

What will happen if the POLICE strike, quit or protest? Who wants to help ppl only to be labled racist, spit on, objects thrown at, lives endangered? Aren't the protesters who are stereotyping them, by definition 'PREJUDICED' also? Hypocritical?

Это неожиданно

Hey where’s the gofundme link so people can help him rebuild?

WILL SMITH FOR PRESIDENT!!

Because they were probably still busy arresting Jewish kids, church goers and mothers at the park with their kids who were breaking quarantine rules.

how come you don’t hear any news on the 77 year old black retired cop that laid in the street dying killed by protesters! Why because he’s a cop and doesn’t deserve the attention!! I’m sick

'When it's time for us to vote, we need everybody out there at the voters poll so we can have a better world.'

Police are not psychic. When they show up somewhere (especially right now in this atmosphere), they don't know who is who and what is happening. Seriously ABC You're going to start doing these 'all police are bad' headlines? What is wrong with you?! 😡

Amazing reporting 👏👏

If you would of Got a White Person to call 911 for you the Fire Department would of been their in 5 minutes...that's Minnesota....it anit Just the Police...it's The Jobs...the Office Building...the DMV. It's a State Full of Hate for Blacks...period

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