A company called Free Market Warrior is the subject of a free speech controversy in Concord, North Carolina. A kiosk owned by Free Market Warrior is being kicked out of the Concord Mills Mall solely due to the political content of its products.
Loren Spivack, the owner of Free Market Warrior, has run the kiosk for about three months. The hottest items have been T-Shirts, bumper stickers, and other paraphernalia that is critical of President Barack Obama.
"After meeting with officials from the Concord, N.C., mall Tuesday afternoon, the two sides could not reach an agreement to keep the 8-foot-long kiosk where it was.
"Mr. Spivack has not agreed to remove the objectionable merchandise and will be moving out of Concord Mills at the end of his lease," a statement from the mall said.
"Spivack told FOXNews.com that mall officials specifically asked that three bumper stickers and a T-Shirt believed to be linking President Obama with terrorism be removed from the kiosk, including one that read, 'Obama Wins and They Celebrate in Iran, Do You Get It?'
"Four employees at the kiosk will lose their jobs at the end of business on Friday, Spivack said, but he'll continue selling the merchandise online."
As a private business, the Concord Mills Mall has the sole discretion about what kinds of businesses it allows to set it on its property, subject to applicable anti discrimination laws. Those laws do not cover political persuasion.
On the other hand, it doesn't look very good for a shopping mall to boot out a business that paid its rent and otherwise did not cause any disruptions. Indeed, the occasion that sparked the eviction of Free Market Warrior from the Concord Mills Mall was a letter to the editor of the local paper accusing Free Market Warrior of sexism and racism.
A quick look at the Free Market Warrior website does not indicate that the company sells any products that promote racism or sexism, unless criticizing an African American President of the United States or promoting conservative politics are ipso facto racist and sexist.
Loren Spivack, the owner of Free Market Warrior, has run the kiosk for about three months. The hottest items have been T-Shirts, bumper stickers, and other paraphernalia that is critical of President Barack Obama.
"After meeting with officials from the Concord, N.C., mall Tuesday afternoon, the two sides could not reach an agreement to keep the 8-foot-long kiosk where it was.
"Mr. Spivack has not agreed to remove the objectionable merchandise and will be moving out of Concord Mills at the end of his lease," a statement from the mall said.
"Spivack told FOXNews.com that mall officials specifically asked that three bumper stickers and a T-Shirt believed to be linking President Obama with terrorism be removed from the kiosk, including one that read, 'Obama Wins and They Celebrate in Iran, Do You Get It?'
"Four employees at the kiosk will lose their jobs at the end of business on Friday, Spivack said, but he'll continue selling the merchandise online."
As a private business, the Concord Mills Mall has the sole discretion about what kinds of businesses it allows to set it on its property, subject to applicable anti discrimination laws. Those laws do not cover political persuasion.
On the other hand, it doesn't look very good for a shopping mall to boot out a business that paid its rent and otherwise did not cause any disruptions. Indeed, the occasion that sparked the eviction of Free Market Warrior from the Concord Mills Mall was a letter to the editor of the local paper accusing Free Market Warrior of sexism and racism.
A quick look at the Free Market Warrior website does not indicate that the company sells any products that promote racism or sexism, unless criticizing an African American President of the United States or promoting conservative politics are ipso facto racist and sexist.
|
|