A restaurant owner in Danville, Illinois has been facing intense criticism for a bumper sticker that he has posted inside the restaurant.
While eating at Gross’ Burgers in Danville, Illinois, repeat customer Sam Schnelle couldn’t help but notice a small yellow sign hanging above a window inside the diner. When she took a closer look and read the message, she simply couldn’t believe her eyes. In bold red lettering, the sign read, “If you CAN’T read this, thank a Marine,” pointing to some Arabic script that reportedly translates to “Allahu akbar.” Allahu Akbar means god is great in Arabic.
The bumper sticker is one among several dozen patriotic items located throughout the restaurant which employs several Marines. One of the more well-known patriotic items at the restaurant is the front of a jeep hanging over the cashier’s spot.
The bumper sticker has been in the restaurant for over ten years and was given to Gross by another Marine while he was serving in Iraq. Up until now, no one had complained about the bumper sticker.
Schnelle posted it on Facebook and the image of the restaurant’s bumper sticker has immediately gone viral. She later said that she had called the restaurant so they could remove the sticker, but she didn’t receive a positive response:
“They then handed the phone to the manager who said, we are most certainly not taking it down. YOU PEOPLE are too sensitive nowadays. And then proceeded to argue with whatever recommendations/points I made and then hung up on me,” she said, “Nice.”
Now, people from across the world, not just Gross’s customers, are declaring that it is racist after all.
“F*** Grossburgers. Absolutely disgusting,” read one comment on Facebook.
“If you can read it, thank yourself for being a multicultural human and not a xenophobic garbage human,” read another irate commenter.
In one review on Tripadvisor, the customer stated that there were racist signs hanging up in the restaurant. While another customer showed support for the restaurant when he said his party came to the Marine-owned and operated restaurant in Danville, Illinois because of the bumper sticker complaints.
There have been protests going on while there were counter-protestors coming from around the area and eating at the restaurant. Gross has stated that he has no intention to take down the bumper sticker.
There have been days because of this controversy that Gross’ Burger has sold out of burgers early. Gross’ Burgers has a 4.5 rating out of 5 stars on Tripadvisor and a 4.5 rating out of 5 stars on Yelp.
Source: AWM
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