The streets of Ontario, California, lay still in the ground as the blazing sounds of sirens rushed over their pavement, and curious drivers watched in awe and shock. Between the streets of South Hellman and Eucalyptus, the quiet morning on April 7 was interrupted as a Kimberly-Clark warehouse went up in flames. This fire was no accident. The fire was started by Chamel Abdulkarim, a 29-year employee at the warehouse.
Abdulkarim was motivated by the working conditions and pay of the warehouse. He posted a video to social media of him burning the products inside the warehouse with a lighter, saying, “all you had to do was pay us enough to live” and “there goes all your inventory” as the products began to burn.
There were no injuries or deaths caused by the fire, although the estimated loss in revenue to Kimberly-Clark is roughly $600 million. Abdulkarim pled not guilty at his first court appearance on April 13.
Abdulkarim’s actions weren’t without their cause. In Abdulkarim’s video, which he posted, he made it clear his reasoning for what he did, and the anger and injustice that drove him to his actions. While setting a building on fire is extreme, he had every right to be frustrated. Abdulkarim’s actions reflect a much deeper issue in our society.
The number of people who don’t make enough to live is ever growing, with nearly half of the people who work full-time jobs unable to afford necessities. Many people suffer from not having enough money to keep themselves afloat, and many people are starting to feel burnt out from the effects.
Abdulkarim reflects the injustices that many people face as multi-million dollar companies don’t pay them enough to survive. The warehouse burning wasn’t about costing the company money; it was about making a statement, advocating for a livable wage for all humans.
