Conservative kiosk not allowed at mall

WCNC ^ | July 22, 2009 | BETH SHAYNE

[NMEwithin]

CONCORD, N.C. -- “Impeach Obama. “

“Al Qaeda’s favorite days: 9/11/01 and 11/04/08.”

“Work Harder. Obama needs the money.”

The bumper stickers and posters sold at “Free Market Warrior” at Concord Mills are meant to be “biting,” the kiosk’s owner Loren Spivack said.

At least one passer-by found them racist and bigoted, and took time to tell the mall in a letter and a letter to the editor of the Charlotte Observer.

Whatever your opinion, the fact is this: At the end of July, “Free Market Warrior” will not be allowed at Concord Mills Mall. The kiosk chain’s owner shared e-mail correspondence with Newschannel 36 that explains that the mall management has decided that the items sold are not “neutral” enough. The lease will be allowed to expire July 31, 2009 without an option to renew.

Spivack, who first leased the space this spring, says the decision came as a shock to him. He says mall management seemed pleased with the kiosk just a few weeks ago.

“Nobody in that mall is selling anything from a conservative perspective. Plenty of people are selling things with a liberal perspective, with a pro-Obama perspective,” he said. “Given that we are in America and not North Korea, we probably should have some stuff on the other side.”....more

[ravingnutter]

Hmmmm...thought I recognized that name. Melvin and Bren Simon, who own Simon Properties, are well-known liberal Democrats who provided huge donations to many prominent Democrats, including Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. They were behind the cancellation of the Altanta Tea Party. There is an online Simon Properties complaint form here

[Bikkuri]

I'm sure that there's a "contact us" on their website.

1. You can find the nearest one here.. 2. You can snailmail the complainant here (1 of 2.. the other was a friend she asked) 3. The complainant's education and job history... 'nuff said... sorry about no carrage returns.. FR isn't always user friendly... :/ (why I added numbers)

[2CAVTrooper]

If some dumba$$ got their panties in a wad over some anti-0bama bumpersticker, then I think Mr Spivack should go around and file complaints against those selling pro-0bama crap for being racists themselves.

I’ve seen plenty of very racist pro-0bama shirts worn by blacks to “rub it in the face” of whites.

I’d then file a discrimination suit against the mall, and a defamation suit against the whiney little 0bama supporter who complained.

[bamahead]

Another Simon Mall Property. Recall that Simon also refused to allow the Atlanta July 4 Tea Party to be held on their property.

[Bikkuri]

BTW, if you DO snailmail (option #2).. please be decent, but give her your opinion... ;)

[ASOC]

LOL

Don’t blame me, I voted for the American.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

“Impeach Obama. “

“Al Qaeda’s favorite days: 9/11/01 and 11/04/08.”

“Work Harder. Obama needs the money.”

Just leave it to a dumbass liberal to make the leap to racism! It’s called FREEDOM OF SPEECH!

[AngelesCrestHighway]

The mall owner is a lib Asshat....No conservatives should shop there at all!

[GOPJ]

I believe the parent company of this mall is already in Bankruptcy. It would suck if they suffered a precipitous drop in revenue during a sensitive time like reorganizing.

I'd be happy to make it "suck more" if you'll give me the name of the parent company of this mall. I won't shop there - and I'll send a letter saying why...

[GOPJ]

Perhaps we should write letters to all the merchants in the mall telling them why we will NOT BE IN THERE BUYING.

Maybe the mall - like most newspapers - have decided they don't need the half of the population that's conservative. I wish 'em luck - they'll need it.

[Trajan88]

A "O" minion objects with other's free speech right to dissent and look what pops out of the deck: