More than 50 people rallied together on Wednesday in support of a Highland Square business owner who’s been getting harassing phone calls because of a political statement in his shop window.
Those who attended the rally carried signs reading “Honk for free speech” and “Free speech in the Square and everywhere.”
Bob Ferguson, owner of Highland Shoe Repair, said he was deeply thankful for the support.
“I expected some people,” he said, “but I didn’t expect this much support.”
Ferguson, who for decades has put political messages in his storefront window, recently dressed a mannequin as Lady Liberty and put her head in a paper bag.
The message was in stark opposition to President Donald Trump’s travel ban that temporarily blocked entry to the U.S. for citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries and all refugees. The travel ban is now being challenged in court and has been placed on hold.
The image of Lady Liberty in a paper bag, though, led a Trump supporter to harass the store owner. Akron police heard the phone calls themselves, and Ferguson shared a voicemail left by the man with the Beacon Journal.
Akron Councilman Rich Swirsky, whose ward includes Highland Square, planned the rally to support Ferguson. On Wednesday, Swirsky also thanked attendees for coming.
But not all who attended were there to support Ferguson.
Across the street was a lone counter-protester.
The protester — a 59-year-old Akron man named Craig who refused to give his last name, citing fear of retaliation — said he felt compelled to show up after reading about Ferguson in the Beacon Journal on Tuesday.
“I’m here to stick up for the rights of the other side,” he said. “President Trump hasn’t even been in office a month yet. Give the guy a chance.”
Craig held a lawn sign featuring the names of Trump and his running mate, Vice President Mike Pence.
The shop owner said the situation runs parallel to current events in Washington, D.C.
On Tuesday night, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., silenced Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., after she read a letter written 30 years ago by Coretta Scott King, the widow of Martin Luther King Jr., opposing the nomination of Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., for a federal judge position. Sessions was confirmed Wednesday evening as the U.S. attorney general.
“Mitch McConnell drew more attention to the situation than if he had just let Elizabeth Warren read the letter,” Ferguson said. “It’s the same thing with the guy who keeps calling my shop.
“Karma actually does work.”
Nick Glunt can be reached at 330-996-3565 or nglunt@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickGluntABJ and on Facebook @JournoNickGlunt .
