Huntley ‘Trump Truth' store hosts dueling rallies as owner vows to stay open
Many of the supporters, who included a 12-year-old girl dressed as the president, donned pro-Trump t-shirts and other attire, waving American flags to catch the attention of passersby, some of whom slammed on their horns in solidarity. Tables set up just outside of the strip mall store were stocked with beverages, pizza and snacks to keep the crowd energized for the afternoon.
Just a half-mile south of the store on Illinois Route 47, about 200 people gathered to protest the store along the roadside with its fair share of supportive honks from drivers passing the sea of protest signs amid cheers and noisemakers.
The support rally came in response to news about the tussle between Fleischmann and the village over accusations that the pro-Trump store violated village sign ordinance and building codes with its inflatable dolls of President Trump and a banner hanging outside of the store.
Fleischmann and her supporters believe the scrutiny is due to her support for Trump. Her landlord has also threatened eviction after facing several citations themselves in January, but attorney David Shestokas, of Orland Park, said the eviction threat is due to pressure from the village, adding her defense includes 'possible violations of First Amendment rights.'
Trump-themed shop could be closed over code issues, but owner says it's political
'Some of the citations they've given, there are other businesses in the area that have had the same stuff like things in front of the businesses or on the sidewalk and they've not been bothered even slightly,' Shestokas said. We're putting together our defense with evidence on what appears to be unequal treatment.'
Shestokas said he is 'extraordinarily optimistic that we'll reach a resolution that's favorable for Lisa.' Fleischmann appeared to be in high spirits Saturday, talking to customers nonstop as they perused and purchased the Trump merchandise that covered nearly every inch of the store near the intersection of Main Street and Illinois Route 47. She said that while weekends were usually busy for her, the energy on Saturday was different.
'Everybody is so great, and people coming from all over to support me means so much,' Fleischmann said. 'It's been so fun.'
Mercedes Beard said it's 'very unfair and wrong' for Fleischmann to have to deal with the village 'trying to intimidate her.'
At the counter-protest, organizer Vivian Lenski, of Huntley, said her event was in part to organize against Trump and his agenda but also to show that business owners 'can't do whatever they want.'
'It's not against (Fleischmann) or her store specifically, anybody can open a store, though it's kind of an eyesore, but if she's not following the rules, it's not right,' Lenski said. 'She's got to follow the law just like everyone else.'
The groups, for the most part, did not appear to interact with one another aside from a brief exchange between a lone anti-Trump protester who stood across the road from Fleischmann's store and one of her supporters who crossed the road the meet him.
Tina Zucker, of St. Charles, and her daughter Lee Zucker, of DeKalb, protest and said it was important to them to be at the counterprotest, though neither of them lives in Huntley. 'We've been to similar protests in the past and the goal is always to show up and get seen by people, especially the ones who can make change happen like our senators,' Lee Zucker said. She also brought along her 6-year-old daughter, who alternated between cheering with her mom and grandma and playing in the grass.
'She doesn't understand a lot of what's going on, but she knows that we should be treating people well and be kind, and I think that's enough,' Lee Zucker said.
Back at Fleischmann's store, supporters echoed their belief that pressure against the business was political.
David and Mercedes Beard drove about 40 minutes from Sycamore to show their support for the store. Their first visit was about a week ago, and they knew they had to return for the rally.
'People are trying to shut her down however they can,' David Beard said. 'It's a political move. For me, I don't care whether you're a Democrat or Republican, you still have the right to be here and run your business.'
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