Progressive-affiliated insurance agency’s racist Juneteenth sign generates outrage

An image of the racist sign, shared on Monday, caused outrage on social media.

Allura Stillwagon, who shared the sign with her online following, told NPR: “I had to read it more than once because I thought it was something [my mom] saw on Facebook. But when she said it was a business [in town], I was immediately disgusted.”

“People have this idea that Maine isn’t very racist and that it’s pretty liberal. But up north, it’s not like that at all,” Stillwagon said.

Progressive and Harry E Reed did not respond to a request for comment, NPR reported.

In a statement on Tuesday, Steve Golieb, chair of Millinocket Town Council, condemned the sign as a “blatant disregard of human decency”.

“It is deeply saddening, disgraceful and unacceptable for any person to attempt to make light of Juneteenth and what it represents for millions of slaves and their living descendants,” Golieb said.

 Millinocket is a “beautiful place to live,” Golieb said, and the town “does not accept or endorse anything short of inclusivity”.

Juneteenth is a federal US holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, celebrated on June 19.