Crazy Things That Happened on Black Friday

By: Fletcher Gould

 Black Friday is one of the most intense shopping days of the year that is marked by chaos and sometimes tragedy. In 2008 the first Black Friday death occurred when shoppers stampeded through a Long Island, New York Walmart’s doors and trampled a worker there. This shows how people are willing to do anything just to get a gift for someone even to kill, which is absolutely crazy. Another crazy incident was in 2011, when a Walmart shopper in Porter Ranch, Los Angeles wouldn’t let anyone get in her way. The Los Angeles Times reported that the woman started pepper spraying other shoppers in order to snag the merchandise she wanted. Days later, she scored a pair of handcuffs and a criminal record.

There have been other crazy Black Fridays, but this next one is more exciting and happy. There have been a few times when people have been proposed to in malls during Black Friday. One time this happened was when a man proposed to his girlfriend in West Virginia with help of his family. They held up signs asking the man’s girlfriend to marry him. Another happy time took place back in 1991. To kill the seven hours of waiting in line outside of a Kmart in Long Island, NY, a man chatted up a woman beside him. Though it was freezing out, it was worth the chill. They wound up getting married and are still together. All of these crazy incidents from Black Friday show how desperate people are for just some good deals on gifts and presents.