September 20, 2018 - A group of protesters are stationed outside of a Nu-Way Convenience Store on Shelbyville Street holding signs saying 'No More Monkey Business' and 'We Are Not Monkeys.'
According to Charvon Hubbard, a woman from Center who is leading the protest, she was inside the store on Monday, September 17th when a comment was made by the store clerk which Hubbard felt was insulting.
Hubbard decided she had had enough and she is boycotting the establishment and encouraging others to do so as well.
In a video she posted on Facebook, Hubbard returned to the store and confronted the clerk about saying they have bananas for all the monkeys around here. When confronted about the comment by an upset Hubbard, the clerk said on the video I'm sorry and then asked Hubbard to leave.
Other protesters said it isn't the first time comments have been made towards the black community which is a large percentage of the store's customers.
At 9am this morning, the parking lot to the store was mostly empty and many passerby were honking their support of the peaceful demonstration.
Hubbard said, "I just want to share this with the people of my community because we don't need to spend our hard earned money where they think we're just 'monkeys hanging around.'"
Shelby County Today contacted Yogi Gorkhali, owner of the Nu-Way, and he disputed the claims made by Hubbard.
"We haven't said nothing wrong to nobody, not the community, not black people, anything like that personally," said Gorkhali. "We are not racists and stuff like that, and another thing people love us too. There are a few people, some reason they don't like us, I don't know, God bless them."
Although Gorkhali does not agree the alleged statement was made, he says he looks forward to working out the issue.
"If there is a way we can solve the problem, if they want an apology, I can apologize there's nothing to lose. If my apology will make them happy, I can apologize."
Gorkhali said he is open to talking, he invites Hubbard and anyone with concerns to meet with him and work things out.
