Charlotte mall boots kiosk that sold anti-Obama gear

[babylonsister]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking/story/858388.html

Kiosk operator must exit after impasse
Concord Mills wanted political items removed.
By Rad Berky
Posted: 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: “Al Qaida's two favorite days, 9/11 and Nov. 4, 2008,” 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.

[rurallib]

1. there ought to be a crowd there to welcome his departure

maybe turn it into a health care demonstration or something.

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. Maybe Spavack will open a line of Klan gear back in the hills somewhere.

He sounds like the type that would..

[Bill219]

3. Actually he'll probably move across the street...

there is a Chick-fil-A over there and in front in the afternoons and weekends there are a bunch of religious nutbag anti-choice people shouting their garbage over an outdoor PA system. They will do this for hours at a time complete with placards and posters showing aborted fetuses.

The worst part is the Toys R Us is in the plaza behind it so my little boy is subjected to this garbage everytime we go there

[Cha]

4. HaHa..a deadender

has been given the boot.

[AspenRose]

5. He'll sell stuff at republican conventions