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The protest occurred on Thursday, June 6 at the Home Depot location in New Rochelle at 55 Weyman Ave., where around 500 people gathered to support day laborers who look for employment at the store.
The gathering follows the store's banning of day laborers from its parking lot, in addition to the arrest of one laborer at the property, according to a report by ABC 7.
The outlet added that the store has since started patrolling its parking lots with security guards and dogs.
According to the United Community Center of Westchester Inc., a nonprofit organization that helped organize the event, the protestors' demands included no longer sending police to harass laborers and dropping charges against them.
Additionally, the organization demanded a dialogue between the store and its workers' committee and a "safe and dignified" space for day laborers to seek employment and avoid harassment.
The protestors were joined by a band, according to videos posted by the UCCW.
Home Depot spokesperson Beth Marlowe gave a statement regarding the protest:
"Our non-solicitation policy has been in place for years, and it prohibits anybody from selling goods or services on our private property," she said.
Marlowe added: "In recent months, we received complaints from customers and associates being made to feel unsafe, bullied, and fearful by unwelcome solicitation and other activities, unsanitary conditions created by people using our bathrooms and facilities other than as intended, and escalating crime. Appropriately, we took action to enhance safety and security and to improve the shopping and working environment for our customers and associates."
"That included stronger enforcement of our existing policies to make sure only customers and associates were allowed in the store and parking lot. We will continue to work to provide a safe and secure work and shopping environment for our associates and customers," Marlowe continued.
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