Bishop William J. Barber III speaks in the course of the Clinton Global Initiative September 2023 assembly at New York Hilton Midtown on Sept. 19, 2023.

Noam Galai/Getty Images for Clinton Global

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Noam Galai/Getty Images for Clinton Global

Bishop William J. Barber III speaks in the course of the Clinton Global Initiative September 2023 assembly at New York Hilton Midtown on Sept. 19, 2023.

Noam Galai/Getty Images for Clinton Global

Civil rights chief Bishop William J. Barber III and NAACP North Carolina are calling on AMC Theaters to enhance accessibility for patrons with disabilities after an incident this week.

Barber, who suffers from ankylosing spondylitis, a sort of arthritis that causes irritation within the joints and ligaments of the backbone, was escorted out of an AMC movie show on Tuesday for bringing in his personal chair to look at a displaying of “The Color Purple” along with his 90-year-old mom within the handicapped part.

Staff there claimed the chair would create a fireplace hazard and would not permit him to make use of it. The former NAACP North Carolina chapter president initially refused to depart and theater workers known as police earlier than the non secular chief voluntarily left with officers.

Barber stated he hasn’t had any points with utilizing the chair at different venues.

“My chair has been everywhere,” Barber told Religion News. “It’s a need that I have because I face a very debilitating arthritic condition.”

Because of this situation, Barber cannot sit in a wheelchair or in low chairs, he told Religion News. He says he was denied cheap lodging on the theater.

The chairman and chief government of AMC Entertainment Holdings, Adam Aron, has since reached out to Barber and supplied to satisfy with him in Greenville subsequent week.

Following the incident, the NAACP North Carolina State Conference stated it serves as a reminder of the necessity to enhance inclusivity for each particular person.

“This incident serves as a powerful reminder that we must create spaces that are inclusive, fair, and respectful of the rights of every individual. Discrimination based on physical abilities has no place in our society, and we must take decisive action to address this issue,” the group stated in an announcement.

The group continued, “While AMC has issued an apology, there is an urgent need for concrete steps to ensure accessibility in all AMC theaters across the nation. The NAACP stands united in our calls for accessibility and justice.”

NAACP North Carolina has launched an online petition calling on AMC Theaters to enhance accessibility and to undertake lasting adjustments.

Barber plans to carry a information convention in Greenville on Friday to additional tackle the incident.