A Michigan business owner is being blasted as a racist over a Facebook post claiming the Black Lives Matter movement is reinforcing “ghetto stereotypes,” according to reports.
Gary DeCarlo, owner of DeCarlo’s Banquet & Convention Center in Warren, shared his beliefs on the BLM movement late last month, according to Facebook screengrabs posted by a Detroit woman on June 30, the Detroit Free Press reports.
“The entire country is sick of your sh-t,” the shared post read. “Sick of the lawlessness, sick of the riots, sick of the threats and demands. The only thing you’ve managed to accomplish in all of this is to live up to the ghetto stereotypes. Congratulations.”
DeCarlo, who could not be reached for comment Friday, has apparently removed his Facebook page since Yolonda Davis noticed the post and shared it on her personal page, the newspaper reports.
“Thanks for letting us know how you really feel!!!!” Davis wrote.
Davis, who has previously visited DeCarlo’s family-owned business, said she was shocked by what she saw.
“I knew exactly what it meant,” Davis continued. “I think he knew what it meant.”
Several people who spotted Davis’ post on DeCarlo’s shared message said they now plan to take their business elsewhere for future events.
DeCarlo, for his part, apologized Wednesday for the post while claiming he didn’t intend to “harm anybody,” WDIV reports.
“I should have read it more thoroughly before I shared it and I made a mistake and I take full responsibility for it,” DeCarlo told the station.
Pressed further, DeCarlo insisted he’s not a racist but said violence associated with the ongoing social-justice movement was “not helping the cause” of BLM protesters.
“I like some of the things that were shared in there, but not all,” DeCarlo continued. “I certainly want to apologize.”
But Davis, meanwhile, thinks DeCarlo’s mea culpa is not entirely genuine.
“I think he’s upset about the money he’s gonna miss out on,” Davis told the Free Press.
Messages seeking comment from DeCarlo were not immediately returned Friday.