A confrontation at a Target store involving a customer and an employee became the subject of an investigation after the incident was shared online.
A video, which has since been removed, showed Michelea Ponce engaging in a heated exchange with Jeanie Beeman, an elderly employee at a Target in Chico, over Beeman’s choice of clothing.
Beeman was wearing a bright red T-shirt emblazoned with an American flag and the words “Freedom” and “Charlie Kirk” on the front.
In the video, Ponce questioned Beeman, saying, “Why would you wear that? You’re at work, at Target… You support a racist,” while ensuring the camera captured Beeman’s attire from all angles.
“It’s a Charlie Kirk shirt. Are you serious?” Ponce continued.
Despite nearly a minute of Ponce’s persistent questioning, Beeman calmly replied, “That’s your opinion, ma’am. Have a nice day,” before walking away.
Reposts of the tense moment spread on conservative social media channels, sparking fury over Ponce’s treatment of the staff member and complaints to Chico police.
But police have since said ‘while we recognize that this topic is emotionally charged… there are no criminal charges appropriate to file in this case.’
Chico Police opened an investigation after local Target employee Jeanie Beeman (pictured) was filmed and shouted at for wearing a Charlie Kirk t-shirt
In a statement acknowledging the incident, the Chico Police Department noted the complaints it had received in the wake of the viral video.
‘As a law enforcement organization, we have an obligation to uphold the United States Constitution,’ they wrote.
‘Specific to this incident, the First Amendment provides various protections related to the freedom of expression. An individual’s ability to express themselves can be thought of as a spectrum- with free speech on one end and criminal conduct at the other end of the continuum.’
After speaking with the Target employee at the center of the controversy and reviewing ‘the available facts’, officers determined ‘the actions of the woman recording the video do not meet the threshold for criminal acts.’
The police department urged the community to allow the uproar surrounding the video to ‘serve as a reminder’ about ‘exercising discretion and consideration for others.
‘Just because you can say something, doesn’t mean you should,’ the spokesperson said.
Although Ponce’s actions were classified under free speech, that didn’t stop conservatives for seeking justice of their own.
Some internet sleuths managed to track down her place of work and called to report her online behavior.
Beeman’s T-shirt appeared to be merchandise from conservative influencer Charlie Kirk
Ponce allegedly works at Enloe Health, a non profit healthcare system in California. The company posted an update regarding the recent online behavior.
‘We are deeply concerned about the tenor of this post and the response it is creating from individuals of all political persuasions,’ they wrote.
‘We ask for patience and calm as we conduct our own internal investigation of this matter. In the meantime, we are relying on the expertise of the Chico Police Department to investigate any potential criminal activity or threats related to it.’
Enloe Health president Mike Wiltermood said at a press conference Wednesday that the company had received thousands of ‘profanity-laced’ calls. He asked that people stop using the company’s main phone number.
Wiltermood expressed sympathy toward Beeman and condemned his employee’s actions.
‘As a human being, I’m sorry she went through that, and I admire her resilience,’ he said. ‘This isn’t about politics. This is about how we treat each other.’
Beeman’s supporters started an online fundraiser hoping to ‘raise enough money so that she can afford a much-needed vacation’ and ‘forget about the ugliness.’
‘Please help us send this incredible woman on an unforgettable trip where she gets some peace of mind amidst all that has transpired, or even just let her splurge for Christmas,’ the fundraiser organizer wrote. ‘Whatever she needs.’
With a goal of $150,000, the site is just $30 short as of Wednesday night.
All of Ponce’s social media profiles have been deactivated since the video went viral.
Chico Target customer Michelea Ponce argued that Beeman supported a racist and was in violation of dress code
Screengrabs of her accounts showed Ponce waring a red ‘Make Racism Wrong Again’ hat with the same message in her bio.
In the video, Ponce also accused Beeman of violating the store’s employee dress code.
‘You should go get a manager you should not be allowed to wear that at work,’ she said.
According to an Indeed article answering questions about Target’s dress code, employees confirmed that they are allowed to wear ‘any red graphic T-shirt or any color T-shirt as long as your outer layer is red.’
While dress codes may range across stores, supporters believed Beeman was not in violation.
A Target spokesman told the New York Post, that they expect ‘everyone in our stores to treat one another with respect.’
The Daily Mail contacted Target for more information.
