A Walmart fundraiser featuring a black employee in a cage asking for bail for the local Children’s Miracle Network hospital is sparking fierce criticism and calls for an investigation after a photo of it was posted on social media.

Angela Boateng discovered the display Wednesday night at the Walmart in Providence, Rhode Island, where she was making a return. She snapped a photo that was later posted on Twitter by Angela Ankoma, director of the Rhode Island Foundation’s Equity Leadership Initiative. Ankoma said in her post that she was “stunned.”

“As I was leaving the Walmart in Silver Spring, I noticed this cage and I thought I saw somebody. I walked closer and thought, ‘Is there a young man in that cage?’ I just didn’t understand what was going on, but I was horrified,” Boateng recalled Thursday in an interview with The Providence Journal, a member of the USA TODAY Network. “And as I walked closer to read what was written on the cage, I don’t really know what came over me. I was just deeply insulted.”

Walmart: Collecting donations in prisons violates store rules

A sign on the cage read: “I’m in jail!!! I need bail!!! Help me raise $50 to get out!!” According to the sign, donations were sent to Hasbro Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in Providence.

The Journal called the store Thursday morning and was put on hold for more than 20 minutes before being told that no manager was available to speak to about the matter. The Journal was unable to confirm the identity of the employee.

Walmart Corporation spokesman Joe Pennington said the location participates in an annual Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals fundraiser in which the company “encourages store employees to collaborate in creative ways with each other and with customers to raise money.”

“The ‘jail’ fundraiser is against company policy and should never be used,” Pennington said. “We emphasize this in our area stores, and this display has been removed from our Providence location.”

Boateng said she tried to complain to a store employee, but without much success. She plans to write to the corporation to express her concerns. She was particularly disturbed that the display was to be used the same month that Rhode Island officially recognized Juneteenth Day.

Boateng described the exhibition as a “horrible trick to raise money” for the fundraiser in favor of the Children’s Miracle Network and the Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, a partner of the network.

“Walmart and Hasbro (Hospital) need to own up to what they did,” Boateng said. “They need to apologize and let the public know what active steps they are taking to make sure this doesn’t happen again. And I think they just need to make it public.”

Hospital system asks Walmart not to hold another fundraiser

It was not immediately clear who came up with the idea for the fundraiser. Sarah Lyons, a spokeswoman for Lifespan Health System, which owns Hasbro Children’s Hospital, said they were unaware of the fundraiser.

“As a partner of the Children’s Miracle Network, Walmart has been a great supporter and partner of Hasbro Children’s Hospital and we are very grateful,” said Lyons. “We were unaware of this special fundraiser as part of the Children’s Miracle Network campaign and have been talking with both the Children’s Miracle Network and the local store about alternative ways to raise money.”

Black Lives Matter calls for investigation into jailed black employee

On Thursday afternoon, the Black Lives Matter Rhode Island Political Action Committee released a statement demanding that Walmart take responsibility for its “degrading” display and hold everyone involved accountable.

“In addition, an immediate and clear apology should be issued to all affected employees, while prompt action should be taken to remove these posters from all Walmart stores,” the PAC said. “Walmart must actively demonstrate its commitment to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace culture by engaging in meaningful dialogue with community leaders, activists and organizations dedicated to addressing racial inequality. Implementing comprehensive diversity and sensitivity training programs for all employees is critical in this process.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Walmart says fundraiser with black employee in cage violated rules