Re: Utah company causes nationwide uproar over 'Sock Obama'
<font size="5"><center>
Charlotte mall boots kiosk
that sold anti-Obama gear</font size><font size="4">
Kiosk operator must exit after impasse;
Concord Mills wanted political items removed</font size></center>
By Rad Berky
NewsChannel 36
VIA The Charlotte Observer
Wednesday, Jul. 29, 2009
CONCORD Talks between the operator of a politically conservative kiosk and the management of Concord Mills went nowhere Tuesday.
The kiosk operator, Loren Spivack, and his merchandise will have to be gone at the end of business on Friday.
Spivack says the mall managers offered him a deal: If he removed three bumper stickers and a T-shirt that all made negative political statements about President Obama, he could renew his lease that is due to expire Friday. Spivack refused the offer, calling it a matter of principle.
“This was a very difficult decision for me,” Spivack said. “We are here supporting freedom of speech.”
One of the bumper stickers the mall wanted him to stop selling reads:<SPAN style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00"> “Al Qaida's two favorite days, 9/11 and Nov. 4, 2008,” </span> a reference to last Election Day when Obama defeated John McCain.
Spivack says mall management told him “those sentiments were too provocative.”
In a statement, Concord Mills said it had the right to remove controversial items in an effort to provide shoppers with “a pleasant, neutral environment.”
The statement read, in part, “Simply, we met with Mr. (Spivack) in good faith to resolve the issue and offered what we believe to be a fair and equitable solution. Mr. (Spivack) has not agreed to remove the objectionable merchandise and will be moving out of Concord Mills at the end of his lease.”
Spivack says he will continue to sell his merchandise online and will look for another place to set up a new kiosk.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking/story/858388.html
