During the deposition process, both Pattersons destroyed what little remained of their defense. Patricia admitted under oath that she called her husband because Bennett didn’t look like she belonged in that kind of store and you can just tell when someone doesn’t fit in. When pressed on what specifically made Bennett not fit in, Patricia couldn’t articulate anything beyond vague feelings and ultimately admitted it was because Bennett was black. And Patricia had never seen a black woman own a luxury boutique. Officer Patterson’s deposition was even more damaging.
When asked why he didn’t believe Bennett when she said she owned the store, he stated, “It just didn’t seem credible. I’ve never encountered a situation like that.” When asked what he meant by a situation like that, he tried to backtrack but eventually admitted he meant he had never seen a black woman own an upscale business and therefore assumed Bennett must be lying. The most devastating moment came when Chan asked Patterson directly, “If a white woman had told you she owned the boutique, would you have believed her?” Patterson paused for a long time before answering.
“Probably yes.” That answer, recorded in an official deposition, ended any chance he had of defending himself. Amara Bennett held a press conference outside her boutique 1 week after the incident. She stood in front of the store she had built wearing a business suit that she’d designed herself and spoke directly to the cameras with a voice that was calm, clear, and absolutely unforgiving. “My name is Amara Bennett.
I built Bellecore Boutique from nothing. I worked three jobs to save the money to open my first store. I spent years learning the fashion industry, developing relationships with designers, understanding what women want when they shop for luxury clothing. I created something beautiful and successful through hard work and determination. And when I walked into my own store to shop, I was treated like a criminal because Officer Dennis Patterson and his wife Patricia could not imagine that a black woman could own a business like mine.”
Bennett paused and let her words sink in before continuing. “Their racism didn’t just hurt me personally. It sent a message to every black entrepreneur, every black professional, every black person who works hard and achieves success, that no matter what we accomplish, some people will always see us as criminals first. Officer Patterson saw my skin color and decided I was suspicious. His wife saw me shopping and called the police.
And when I told them the truth about who I was, they refused to believe me because their prejudice was stronger than reality.” Bennett’s voice hardened. “I’m not staying silent about this. I’m filing a lawsuit. I’m pursuing criminal charges.
