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Date: 9/2/2020
HUNTINGTON – Counter-protestors outnumbered protestors on Aug. 30 in front of the Huntington County Store, where a protest had been planned objecting to the store’s use of the words “China Coronavirus” in the safety guidelines on its website and in signs at the store itself.
“We are here today because of our attempts to contact the owners about the racist language on their website that we are concerned will bring harm to Asian-American people. We hope they hear us and make a different decision than they have,” said Ali Wicks-Lim of Montague, one of the organizers of the protest, organized under the name No Hate in Huntington
However, before the 30 or so protestors had even gathered at 12 noon, a hundred or more mostly local residents lined the sidewalk in support of the Huntington Country Store’s right to freedom of speech.
The counter-protesters held signs saying “We don’t apologize for the truth,” and “Trump 2020,” among others. The Huntington Country Store also had displayed on its sign the words, “Sunday is Freedom of Speech Day – All Welcome.”
The result led to a noisy gathering, with chants of free speech drowning out the protestors who had to use bullhorns to be heard. A small group, led by Wicks-Lim, attempted to enter the store to speak but were stopped by owner Randy Butler.
Lim-Wicks told Butler that using the words “China Virus” was feeding into the Trump narrative, putting Asian people at risk. She asked him to remove the language from the site and apologize.After a brief discussion, Lim-Wicks and the group left without entering the store. “We are not welcome,” she said when asked what the group was told.
“I don’t want any violence. I want people to be safe. Today would be a good day if everyone goes home safe,” Randy Butler said afterward.
Inside the store, which is limited to 16 customers at a time according to COVID-19 guidelines, owner Becky Butler was busy selling ice cream and baked goods, and taking orders over the phone. “It’s awesome the support we’re getting from residents,” she said.