Sisters Mourning Mom's Death Kicked Out of Mall for 'Fuck Cancer' Hats
Sisters Zakia and Tasha Clark have been wearing their "Fuck Cancer" hats every day since their mother, Jackie Underwood passed away from the disease last week at the age of 51.
That's why they had no intention of leaving the hats behind when they went shopping for funeral dresses at the King of Prussia Mall this past Sunday.
"There are no other words you can use to explain how you feel," Zakia told the Philadelphia Daily News. "You want cancer to get cancer and die."
The two sisters had been walking around the mall with their other sister, Makia Underwood, and some friends, when they split off to find something to eat.
It was at the food court that the two were confronted by a security guard who demanded that they take off the hats.
Tasha refused, asking the guard to show her "something in writing."
The guard then ordered the Tasha and Zakia to leave the mall and called for backup.
Seven additional guards showed up and the sisters were escorted to the mall office where they were met by a police officer.
"The officer said, 'I find it offensive that you even have that hat that says 'FUCK CANCER,'" Zakia recalled. "He said, 'It's their mall, they want you out, you have to get out.'"
And so they did.
Reached for comment by the Associated Press, Mall manager Robert Hart said he sends his condolences, but stands by the decision to eject the sisters from the mall, claiming they violated the code of conduct by displaying profanity.
Makia told ABC 6 the very same mall has stores that sell t-shirts with profanity, including one at Urban Outfitters that simply says "fuck you."
A spokesman for the property group that owns King of Prussia Mall was a bit more apologetic.
He phoned Zakia after learning of the incident through the media and acknowledged that the situation "could have been handled in a much more empathic and sensitive manner."
The sisters say they are planning to put on their "Fuck Cancer" hats and protest outside the mall tomorrow night.