A Massachusetts jewelry store is under attack for a billboard mocking the NFL anthem protests.
The billboard erected by Garieri Jewelers in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, features a man holding a ring and kneeling to propose to his lover. The two are set in front of a football stadium backdrop, and the tagline reads, “If you’re going to take a knee this season, please have a ring in your hand!”
But, liberals are unhappy with the store for making fun of the anthem protesters, according to Boston’s WHDH Channel 7 News.
Store owner Scott Garieri said he put the billboard up on August 31 and since then has received a growing number of threats and attacks by liberals calling him a “racist” for the jab at the anthem protests.
“I’m not a racist,” Garieri told Daily Wire. “It was more satirical than anything else.”
The owner’s daughter, Alexandria, said that one email addressed to her said she should “kill yourself.” Alexandria added, “I feel sorry for them because there are a lot of issues going on in this world. And it’s a billboard. It’s a piece of paper. If you don’t like it, don’t look at it.”
According to the Telegram, the store owner has received hundreds of nasty emails.
“I’ve had enough,” Garieri said. “I got on [Facebook] and said ‘Look, if you don’t like my billboard, don’t look at it, and if you have a problem with me, don’t shop at my store.’’
Garieri is refusing to back down or remove the billboard despite the liberal criticism.
Fortunately, no one has come to the store in person to confront him, Gareri said. But he does not doubt that it could still happen.
Indeed, Gareri says that no one attacking him even knows him or has been to his store.
“I don’t force my beliefs on anyone,” Gareri said. “I don’t say ‘you’re either a Trump guy or the highway,’ I am an open guy. I can agree to disagree with anybody, but I do not take favor to people threatening my daughter or my family.”
The store owner also said he does not support the anthem protests. “I disagree with it 100%,” he insisted. “If it comes down to Colin Kaepernick or my veterans, there is no competition. I side with our veterans; I side with our police officers.”
On the other hand, he reported that the billboard has not hurt his business at all. Sales have actually been up since the left started attacking him.
“I don’t think it hurts me one bit, and it’s probably because I sided with the right side — not the wrong side,” he said.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.
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