A Maine-based insurance company is facing backlash after posting a racist Juneteenth sign.
“Juneteenth ~ it’s whatever… We’re closed. Enjoy your fried chicken & collard greens,” is what a sign posted read that was posted on the building window of Harry E. Reed Insurance Agency in Millinocket. The sign was seen during the Juneteenth holiday weekend.
A Facebook user and Millinocket resident named Alura Stillwagon posted an image of the sign online. “The racism in Millinocket is real,” wrote Stillwagon on her post which hit the social media platform on Monday, CBS News reports.
The backlash ended up reaching the company through Yelp, where people loaded the company with negative reviews. The poor responses got so bad that Yelp had to “temporarily disabled the ability to post” as it investigates the issue.
In a statement, Yelp responded to the sign saying,” While racism has no place on Yelp and we unequivocally reject racism or discrimination in any form, all reviews on Yelp must reflect an actual first-hand consumer experience.”
Millinocket Town Council Chair Steve Golieb also made a statement about the sign, condemning racism, CBS News reports.
“It is deeply saddening, disgraceful and unacceptable for any person, business, or organization to attempt to make light of Juneteenth and what it represents for millions of slaves and their living descendants,” he wrote. “There is no place in the Town of Millinocket for such a blatant disregard of human decency.”
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