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United States News Title: Racist Sign ("No Negro's Allowed!!") Returns To Storefront ABBOTSFORD -- This small city is getting a lot of media attention. But Abbotsford residents say it's not welcome attention. A sign reading, "No Negro's Allowed!!" has returned to a storefront window, 209 N. First Street, located downtown next to the public library and City Hall. The property's renter, Mark Prior, said he's renovating the property to open a private gentlemen's club. He was planning to open the facility today. "I don't know when it'll open. I've been busy with other things," said Prior, alluding to the interviews he has done with media after he was asked to remove the racist sign last week. Television stations from St. Louis, Mo., to Fort Meyers, Fla., have aired reports written by Wisconsin journalists about Prior's sign, and versions of the story have been posted to dozens of websites, including msnbc.com. A city government official told Prior the sign was offending some community members and asked him to remove it last week, which he did, Prior said. But the sign reappeared on the building Thursday morning -- this time in a dormer-style window that's higher than street level. "It's my right," Prior said. Federal and state law prohibit a public business from excluding anyone on the basis of race. "My club's going to be private and no alcohol will be served, so I can limit my membership any way I want to," Prior said. But Prior's sign was the last straw for some community members. "I think citizens of Abbotsford are outraged at the name it's given our city," said City Clerk Jennifer Lopez. Before Prior can open a business, whether it's private or public, he would need a permit from the city, Lopez said. The facility also requires an inspection by the city building inspector prior to opening, she said. "I know he wanted to start a grocery store and applied for a license to sell cigarettes," said Lopez, who added Prior was told to reapply because the paperwork wasn't completed correctly. Prior said the rejection of his application is an example of the city preventing him from opening a business. Earlier, Prior attempted to start a sheriff's department in a different building. Failing that, he ran for Clark County Sheriff as a write-in candidate this year. He received eight votes. "There's some bad cops in Clark County, and someone is going to get arrested sooner or later," he said. The storefront is rented to Prior until September on the basis that he renovates the property, according to the landlord, who lives in Pittsville. Some of Prior's plans for the building have included a laundromat, but now he's working to create a discount store on one side and club on the other end, he said. As he discussed his plans Thursday, Prior said, "There's good black people, too. Not all black people will be excluded (from the club). But there's some white people that won't be welcome here." Their names might end up in a window sign, too, he said.
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#1. To: Brian S (#0)
Did padlock open a new business?
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