An insurance agency put up a sign on their door before Juneteenth that read, “Juneteenth, it’s whatever… we’re closed. Enjoy your fried chicken and kale.”
MILLINOCKET, Maine — A social media post It’s now been shared more than 9,000 times and counting, calling out a business in Millinocket about a sign it put up before the June 16 holiday.
The post features photos of Harry E. Reed Insurance Inc. on Penobscot Avenue in Millinocket with a sign on the door that reads, “Juneteenth, whatever… we’re closed. Enjoy your fried chicken and kale.”
This post sparked outrage throughout the community and beyond, and even gained national attention.
Melanie Higgins, an insurance agent with the company, is the one who put up the sign.
“I never set out to hurt anyone on purpose and I never set out to hurt my mom’s business at all. She had nothing to do with this,” Higgins said.
Higgins’ mother, Karen, has owned the business since she bought it more than 30 years ago. Now, just the two of them work there and run the business together.
Higgins said he puts up signs on the door before each holiday they plan to be closed for. Since the beginning of the pandemic, he said that he tried to make those signs more lighthearted and comical to bring a little lightness to a difficult moment. He said that he often mentioned food on those posters as well.
Showing a number of examples of past signs, he pulled out one for Memorial Day, reading in part: “…thanks to all service members for their sacrifice for this country. A country now going to hell in a basket.” faster than my dog stealing a slice of pizza from the counter…now that I mention pizza, I have a craving…remember, the more you weigh, the harder it is to kidnap you.”
“I really apologize, I’m mortified that this is happening,” Higgins said.
Higgins said he had a rough week, and when he wrote the sign last Friday, he was in a hurry to go home for the weekend.
As images of the sign continue to circulate on social media, he said they had to pick up the phone.
“We are receiving death threats. We’re getting phone calls telling us really inappropriate words,” Higgins said.
Higgins said he hopes he can correct this and that the public will accept his apology.
Meanwhile, many people online are posting comments to the post claiming that the town of Millinocket is a racist community.
Millinocket City Manager Peter Jamieson said he wanted to set the record straight.
“We strongly believe that we have no place for this in our community,” Jamieson said.
Millinocket City Council President Steve Golieb said they are in the process of discussing how they want to move forward, while trying to make one thing clear, “an unfortunate incident like this does not characterize who we are as a community.” Golieb said.
business, too post an apology message Wednesday afternoon on Facebook.
More stories from the Maine NEWS CENTER
Click here to sign up for the NEWS CENTER Maine’s Daily Break Time Newsletter.
For the latest news, weather, and traffic alerts, download the NEWS CENTER Maine mobile app.
Reference-www.newscentermaine.com