STURGIS, Mich. — A family-owned flooring business in the small town of Sturgis, Mich. is defending itself after an advertisement in the local newspaper on Tuesday sparked outrage online.
Bowersox Floor Center has been doing business in Sturgis and the surrounding St. Joseph County area for more than 30 years, according to its website.
On Tuesday, an advertisement at the bottom of the front page of the Sturgis Journal read:
Diversity is the Trojan horse of terrorism.
The ad includes the Bowersox Floor Center logo and contact information.
News Channel 3 reached out to the business for comment, but has not yet heard back.
After Tuesday’s newspaper was published, two posts were made to the Bowersox Floor Center Facebook page to “try and clear some air from the Sturgis Journal ad that was ran Tuesday.”
After Tuesday’s newspaper was published, two posts were made to the Bowersox Floor Center Facebook page to “try and clear some air from the Sturgis Journal ad that was ran Tuesday.” (WWMT)
However, it appears the business has since deleted these posts.
The posts did not clarify who exactly placed the ad or wrote the subsequent statements on social media.
One of the posts said, in part:
White, black, male, female, Christian, Muslim. the list goes on. That in itself, although on the surface looks or even has the intentions of being a good thing, can also lead to exactly what this post has done. Caused division among us. Breaks up what makes us strong, our Unity.
The Trojan horse, on the surface was a beautiful gesture, a gift. But what was hidden destroyed a nation.
We can celebrate our differences, but we should still remain steadfast in what makes us strong as a country. We are all Americans.
In hindsight, the choice of words should have been better. We sincerely apologize if this was misrepresented in our ad.
{p}After Tuesday’s newspaper was published, two posts were made to the Bowersox Floor Center Facebook page to “try and clear some air from the Sturgis Journal ad that was ran Tuesday.” (WWMT){/p}
The message finished by quoting Founding Father and Statesmen Patrick Henry: “United we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs.”
A Sturgis resident, who shared concerns regarding the advertisement on social media, told News Channel 3 that regardless of the intent, how the message was received matters as well.
“It didn’t seem like an actual apology,” Steven French said. “It was more like they were trying to deflect it…to make it almost seem like it was the community’s problem for misinterpreting or misunderstanding. And I can understand where they’re coming from. We all make mistakes, we’re all people. But, say that then.”
French said he decided to make a post on social media not to harm a local business, but to encourage dialogue.
“That’s why I wanted to make it public,” he said. “With the state of the country right now, I wasn’t quite surprised to see a statement like that, but I was very shocked to see it in our community paper.”
In a statement to News Channel 3, a Sturgis Journal spokesperson said the ad should never have been published.
Statement from Sturgis Journal spokesperson. (Gannett/WWMT)
“An advertisement was mistakenly published in our Oct. 28 edition because our approval policies were not followed,” the spokesperson said. “We’re strengthening our review process to prevent future errors and deeply regret any distress this may have caused.”
News Channel 3 has also reached out to Bowersox Floor Center for additional comment, but has not yet heard back.