CULLMAN, Ala. – Just after protests in Nashville and Birmingham over the death of George Floyd in Minnesota turned into violent riots, a group of young protesters appeared in Cullman’s Depot Park, sparking concern among local residents and especially among nearby downtown business owners. The protests have gone on for four days without any incidents, but some are still worried about outside groups coming in causing trouble.
The Tribune talked to three downtown business owners to get their feelings about the protest, protesters and the possibility of civil unrest in Cullman.
One business owner, who agreed to speak only on condition of anonymity due to concerns for safety and security, told The Tribune, “Everything I’ve seen that’s going on, whether it’s nationally or even in some of the cities here in Alabama, I’ll admit it’s really quite frightening, to be honest with you; not so much just from the aspect of the businesses, but some of the stuff that you’re seeing, some of the people that claim to be there for the protest, but end up being rioters there, trying to do harm to police officers- and they’re just doing their job. They didn’t do what that one police officer did in Minnesota; they had nothing to do with that. It’s just a job that they have, that they choose to provide for their family, and I hate that for them.
“I 100% agree that what that police officer did in Minnesota was wrong, and he should be charged with murder, in my opinion. But I also think we need to support our police officers because, man, they are in a tough spot, right now. I mean, they’re in a tough spot. I’ve got friends that are county sheriff’s deputies, I’ve got friends that are city police officers, and it’s just a crazy thing to think about.”
The businessman has been in touch with local law enforcement, and was considering whether he should spend nights at his place of business to defend the facility.
The owner continued, “Being a small business owner is something I had dreamed of for so long . . . It’s very frightening, because you know how much that you have sacrificed, whether it’s money or sacrificed time away from your kids or your wife to try to get things in order, so that your idea can be successful”
His wife said she did not want him staying at their place of business at night, out of fear for his safety.
Reflecting on her concern, the businessman noted, “You know, that’s what one of my buddies that’s a police officer for the city does every day, and that’s how his wife feels probably every day that he leaves, that he could not come home.”
He added, though, that if unrest does begin, he will likely act to defend his property, saying, “We try each day to put in a good day’s work, and to build the brand of the store, so that we get people that come in, they want to tell their friends. I was telling my wife, ‘This could all be gone so quick.’”
The business owner has held a concealed carry permit for many years, and said, “I believe in the Second Amendment; I carry every day . . . It’s not something that I want to do, by any means. I mean, I understand that, when you have a pistol, you don’t have a pistol because you’re going deer hunting. You know what I’m saying? It’s self-defense, and I take that very seriously.”
He told The Tribune that he has never felt a need to reach for his weapon in the time that he has owned his business.
Reflecting on the riots that have been seen in numerous cities recently, the businessman said, “They’re using this time to cause a ruckus that has nothing to do with the protest at hand. People are just crazy, man, and it’s very, very frightening.”
He concluded, “Cullman is such a great place to live; it is a great place to live, in my opinion. It’s the only place I’ve ever lived, but I go other places, I see other things. And sure, a long, long time ago, Cullman had a bad rap for dealing with racial issues. I do not feel like that is the case, now, in my personal opinion. I don’t have any qualms with anybody that’s not Caucasian like myself. I just hope that something good comes out of this and it’s not wasted, because there’s a lot of stuff going on, a lot of people that’s hurting, that have nothing to do with that murder in Minnesota.”
Donnie Handley
Donnie Handley, owner of Cullman SnoBiz told The Tribune, “I don’t care if people protest; people protest all over the world, whether it’s criminal, biblical, whatever, churches or this. But it’s the stupid things they do after that: if they start vandalizing or if they start breaking into businesses and stealing stuff, burning things. I mean, if they want to protest over there, I’ve got a business here. They’re not hurting my business as long as they’re over there, and I don’t care, because they’re protesting for what they believe in and they have a right to do that.
“But that’s all they have the right to do. They don’t have the right to mess with my business, or my employees or anything of ours. And even when these other groups that are up here, and they’re kind of co-protesting against it, as long as they do that safely and correctly, I don’t have a problem with that. But when they start mixing it up- and it has been mixed up a couple of times; not much, it’s been pretty safe, but in other towns- the citizens of this town are worried about what might happen here that’s happened in other places.
“Now, we have a small police force and sheriff’s office, so the citizens of this town, they’re not going to let this happen to our town. We’re going to back the police and we’re going to protect our own.
“As far as them protesting over there, as long as they do it peacefully, I don’t have a problem with it.”
Handley addressed a very active local rumor mill, saying, “The people in Cullman are getting scared; they’re getting nervous. When people get scared and nervous, you know what they’re going to do? They’re going to load up. And it don’t matter who it is that comes on their property, they’re going to shoot them because they’re scared. We don’t need to be scared.”
Wayne Gardner
Wayne Gardner, owner of Gardner’s Texaco, told The Tribune, “What I’m seeing about the actual protesters is their rights to protest, that they’ve done it in the proper way. I’ve not noticed anything, that they’ve done anything out of the ordinary, that they’ve done anything wrong, you know, just exercising their constitutional right to protest. Whether I agree or disagree with them, that’s what our country was founded on, that everybody has an opinion.
“We’ve got to a point where, I think, that we have lost our respect for other people. We don’t respect other people’s opinion. Some things are just flat out wrong, but if it’s just an opinion and things, then we’ve lost the respect to listen to those other people, to their concerns. And everybody’s got concerns.
“But they’ve done everything right, I’d say.”
Of the counterprotesters, Gardner remarked, “Everything I’ve seen, they’ve listened to the police, they’ve done what the police have asked them to do. You know, they’ve stayed away, from what I’ve seen. I’ve heard a few things; I’ve not seen it, so I’m not going to speak about that. From what I see, they stay at their vehicles like the police have told them to, and just sitting there watching on that.”
Despite the peaceful nature of the event so far, Gardner was still worried, saying, “I’m very concerned about that. And honestly, I’m not concerned about the people that I see here right now. From what I see right now, there’s really no concern. It’s what we can’t see: that, if a group decided to come up here, you know, to cause mayhem and chaos.
“Our police guys, I think, do an awesome job. I think we’re lucky to live in a place like Cullman. Do we have things that we need to change, some ways of thinking? Sure, everybody does. But, for the most part, I think we come to Cullman to feel safe, no matter where you come from or what you do. Our police guys do a great job protecting everybody. I don’t think they pick and choose who they protect. I think they do a great job protecting everybody.
“And, like I said, my biggest concern is outside people coming in to cause chaos in here. That’s my biggest concern.”
Gardner smiled as he concluded, “I do want to say, though, I miss the days when all we had to worry about was are you an Alabama or Auburn fan!”
A customer chimed in, “War Eagle,” but Gardner, under the watchful gaze of the portraits of Bear Bryant, Nick Saban and other Tide legends on his wall, kept the peace.
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