NITTERHOUSE HARDWARE SIGN
NEUTRALITY IN CASES OF INJUSTICE DOES NOT EXIST. SILENCE IS CHOOSING THE SIDE OF THE OPPRESSOR.
THE ISSUE in a nutshell...
On October 30, 2021, while campaigning for Mayor, Marvin Worthy of Racial Reconciliation of Franklin County learned that the sign at Nitterhouse Hardware had the N word on it. The message was promptly removed, but the store ultimately failed to publicly state their opposition to the hate speech displayed on their sign.
CALL TO ACTION
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Write the manager/owner of Nitterhouse Hardware expressing your concerns and ask them to make a public statement that racism is not acceptable in this town or condoned by them.
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Matt Stine
Nitterhouse Masonry and Hardware Supply
859 Cleveland Avenue
Chambersburg, PA 17201
717-267-4500
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Shop elsewhere until store management makes the statement and ask others to do the same.
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Share this page on social media, or pass along to your friends, families, and neighbors in an email to spread awareness and ask for them to answer the call to action.
OVERVIEW & BACKGROUND
On October 30, 2021, while campaigning for Mayor, Marvin Worthy of Racial Reconciliation of Franklin County (RRFC) learned that the sign at Nitterhouse Hardware read (censored version): "EVEN NO N***** NO CLAACE"
Marvin immediately called the Chief of Police who sent an officer to investigate. Upon arriving, they found the sign had already been changed. Chambersburg Police department was unable to find any evidence identifying the culprit(s).
Next, Marvin and Clint Bolte met with Matt Stine, the manager of the hardware store, to express their concern and requested that the store display a message indicating they did not condone the previous message on the sign. Per Mr. Stine’s request, the next day Marvin emailed possible messages for display:
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Week one: We Stand Against Racism
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Week two: We Choose Love Not Hate
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Week three: United Against Racism
(left) Picture taken on October 30, 2021 of the message displayed on Nitterhouse Hardware's sign.
(right) Picture taken a few days later of Nitterhouse Hardware's "response" to the hate speech.
After several days passed, Marvin followed up with Mr. Stine who informed him that the following message was Nitterhouse’s response: "HELP OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT THE YMCA"
Marvin responded that this slogan did nothing to address the hateful words previously displayed and asked the store to make a public statement doing so. Mr. Stine replied, “We would rather remain neutral because we have customers.”
CAUSE FOR CONCERN
It is clear that Nitterhouse Hardware failed to state publicly their opposition to the hate speech displayed on their sign. We are reminded of Bishop Tutu’s words, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
RESOURCES
Some perspectives on neutrality and silence from businesses on political and social issues: