Town responds after sign on Millinocket business causes outrage

Authored by wabi.tv and submitted by QuicklyThisWay

MILLINOCKET, Maine (WABI) - An insurance agency in Millinocket is facing public outrage for a sign displayed in their window over the weekend.

People on social media have shared pictures of the sign that was posted on the door of the Reed Agency on Penobscot Avenue stating: “Juneteenth it’s whatever... We’re closed. Enjoy your fried chicken & collard greens.”

The Town of Millinocket released a statement to TV5 in response.

“It is deeply saddening, disgraceful and unacceptable for any person, business, or organization to attempt to make light of Juneteenth and what it represents for millions of slaves and their living ancestors. There is no place in the Town of Millinocket for such a blatant disregard of human decency. The Town of Millinocket is a beautiful place to live - filled with welcoming, kind, and hardworking people. As such, the Town does not accept or endorse anything short of inclusivity, and we invite any all to come discover the wonderful things that our community offers,” stated Town Manager Peter Jamieson and Town Council Chair Steve Golieb.

Another business in Damariscotta called Reed Family Insurance Advisors has dealt with people thinking they are the business in question.

This is the message they have recorded when you call them:

”Thank you for calling Reed Family Insurance Advisors. If you’re calling about the unacceptable sign on the door of a Millinocket business in Maine, with a similar name as us, we are not them. We are not associated, nor affiliated, with that business. Please direct your valid concerns to them. The name of that business is Harry Reed Insurance Incorporated, and their number is 207-723-5146. Our businesses are closed trying to update all news and media outlets about this horrible mistake. We will reopen at Wednesday at 9 a.m.”

We’ve attempted to reach out to the Reed Agency multiple times but calls to the business are not going through.

The town manager tells TV5 that the sign has been removed.

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costabius on June 21st, 2022 at 20:07 UTC »

Cue the cries of "OH NOE WE'RE BEING CANCELED BY THE MOB!" as the predictable results of their actions start happening.

BranWafr on June 21st, 2022 at 19:59 UTC »

I'll never understand things like this. All they had to do was not say anything. It is so easy not to be racist, especially in very vocal and public ways, yet they keep having trouble with it.

TurningTwo on June 21st, 2022 at 19:43 UTC »

Private businesses don’t have to close on federal holidays. If they don’t care for the holiday then just go on and conduct business as usual.