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A North Carolina civil rights activist and minister was told he couldn't use his own chair at a screening of “The Color Purple” at an AMC theater in Greenville, and the chain is now reportedly apologizing for the incident.
The Hill reported that Rev. William Barber II, who once served as chairman of the North Carolina NAACP, attended a screening of “The Color Purple” in Greenville, North Carolina, with his 90-year-old mother.
The civil rights activist reportedly suffers from ankylosing spondylitis, which makes it difficult to sit on low seats and requires the use of a cane.
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Rev. William Barber addresses the media during a press conference on September 22, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The group is being asked to release police video of the fatal shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott at an apartment complex near… (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images / Getty Images)
When he arrived at the cinema on Tuesday, he was told by cinema staff that he was not allowed to use his own chair in a section of the cinema designated for people with disabilities.
Management eventually called Greenville police, who claimed Barber left the property after speaking to him.
A local CBS station in Greenville reported that Barber said there was no signage saying the chair was not allowed. He added that he has taken his chair to several other venues and there has never been an incident.
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WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 21: Reverend William Barber (L) and Reverend Jesse Jackson lead protesters through the US Capitol Rotunda before being arrested on May 21, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images / Getty Images)
“Whether I’m on Broadway, in the White House, in the State House or in the U.S. Congress, they always let me bring that chair,” he said. “It was never a problem. In fact, it’s never been a problem in other theaters.”
AMC did not immediately respond to requests from Fox News Digital seeking information about the incident.
In a statement to the local CBS station, AMC said it apologized to Bishop.
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HARWOOD HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 4: An AMC Theaters logo hangs on the front of one of the company's theaters closed by the coronavirus COVID-19 on December 4, 2020 in Harwood Heights, Illinois. This could be another blow to the theater… ((Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) / Getty Images)
“We sincerely apologize to Bishop Barber for the manner in which he was treated and for the frustration and inconvenience caused to him, his family and his guests,” Ryan Noonan, AMC vice president of corporate communications, said in the declaration. “AMC Chairman and CEO Adam Aron has already called him and plans to meet with him in person next week in Greenville, North Carolina to discuss both this situation and the good works that Bishop Barber has done throughout who has done years.”
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The spokesperson also said that AMC is reviewing policies for accommodating disabled people among staff to ensure similar incidents do not occur.