Friday, July 24, 2020

Tony's Ice Cream Gastonia Latest Target of Cancel Culture and BLM

The woman whose arrest has sparked days of racial unrest in Gastonia spoke out Thursday, detailing what she describes as mistreatment that kick-started a chain of events that led to her being charged with trespassing.
Lydia Sturgues-Robinson, a 31-year-old first year law school student from Gastonia, said she’s received death threats in the wake of tense protests that have erupted at and near Tony’s Ice Cream on East Franklin Boulevard in the wake of her arrest for trespassing Monday night.
“It is very heavy,” Sturgues-Robinson said. “It hurts I’m getting death threats, people are sending pornographic material to my phone. I am getting death threats over ice cream.”
Despite that, she said Thursday she’s willing to sit down with the ownership of Tony’s Ice Cream to discuss the situation.
Sturgues-Robinson made her remarks at a hastily-called press conference outside the downtown Gastonia branch of the Gaston County Public Library.
Sturgues-Robinson said she believes an interaction with an employee of Tony’s went south because she was wearing a Black Lives Matter button Monday night .
“I was treated unfairly, simply put,” Sturgues-Robinson said. “It doesn’t have to do with an eye roll. It was a feeling. You could feel it, tension. It was the way she failed to look me in the my eyes and address me as a person. It was the way she failed to speak to me. It was the way she interacted with the customers prior to me.”
Sturgues-Robinson said that sparked an incident that led to another Tony’s employee yelling at her to get out, and, “You are not wanted here,” after which she said she paid for her ice cream and walked out the door.
That sparked comments from Tony’s patrons in the parking lot that Sturgues-Robinson described as antagonistic.
“When they did that I said, ’How can I fight in the streets (against) injustice every single day and not stand up for myself,” Sturgues-Robinson said. “And I took the opportunity to have an impromptu protest.”
Police soon arrived and Sturgues-Robinson said she was doing nothing wrong, but was told the diner’s management wanted her cited for trespassing.
Less than a minute later, she said, Gastonia police took her into custody in front of the restaurant but while Sturgues-Robinson was standing on the sidewalk.
She was later transported for medical treatment, then to the Gaston County Jail, where she was later released on an unsecured bond.
Tense protests followed on Tuesday and Wednesday stemming, at least in part, from Sturgues-Robinson’s arrest.
Protesters clashed in the parking lot of Tony’s on Tuesday, leading at least one person to draw a gun. Two people were arrested in that instance.
Wednesday night, protests continued for hours as demonstrators, some self-described as members of the New Black Panther Party for Self Defense, marched openly with weapons.
Witnesses said white men with weapons were also on scene near Tony’s.
Police blocked off portions of East Franklin Boulevard and areas near the Gaston County Courthouse, and the protests were later dispersed by police, with multiple arrests coming Wednesday.
The majority of those arrests were of black men and women, according to police records.
Sturgues-Robinson said enjoying Tony’s Ice Cream has been a family tradition since she was a little girl.
“It’s something that I hold sacred,” Sturgues-Robinson said. “It’s something that I do every time I’m in Gastonia.”
Tony’s Ice Cream management characterized the confrontation inside the store Monday as a misunderstanding between a cashier and Sturgues-Robinson.
“I hate that that lady, Ms. Sturgues-Robinson, got arrested (Monday) , and I want people to know we do not discriminate, and we just want people to be happy and comfortable in our store,” Owner Tony Coletta said Tuesday after the protest in Tony’s parking lot.
Sturgues-Robinson said she’s willing to sit down with Coletta and Tony’s management and said she’s hopeful.
“I would anticipate it will go well,” Sturgues-Robinson said. “At this point they’ve let out a long apologetic statement to The Gazette. They did not reach out to me, but they did, in The Gazette, let out a frank apology, though not to me. So I am hopeful. I want to see what they say. I think that again, effective communication is important.”

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's what happens when you cross the county line and show you're ass. Gastonia ain't Charloot. I'm so glad that I live in Union County. Really enjoyed the news story I saw this morning about the turd who decided it was a good idea to bow up on some deputies last year and got his ass whooped. It sends a clear message to the thugs to stay in Charloot. Sherriff Cathey and Union County dont play and we are a safer community because of it. As long as I am a resident here then he will continue to get my vote and the majority of residents in this county feel the same. Mecklenburg County can keep their liberal reality TV show Sherriff who operates the hotel for residents. We will keep our Jail for Criminals!

Anonymous said...

Gastonia has gone soft. A generation ago, someone raising trouble in Tony's would have been handled by the patrons without police intervention, regardless of sex. That parking lot has seen its share of blood over some silly stuff through the generations. But this is 100% staged outrage. They'll be going for RO's next, just wait and see.
Sad to see a multi-generation, local establishment get targeted, but from what I see, that isn't going to stop anyone who knows their ice cream from continuing to enjoy it.
Don't let these folks steal your joy. It's over 90, Tony's is maybe the best thing going west of the Catawba. Go get a milkshake. You'll thank me later.

Anonymous said...

I know countless 3 generation families both black and white who have been customers of Tony's for years. Without a doubt this was staged. Totally faux outrage and another fake someone is a racist claim. Shame on WBTV for giving this witch a forum to try to claim her 2 seconds of fame.


Anonymous said...

The man in the picture wearing the bow tie. You can never trust a man wearing a bow tie.

Anonymous said...

You can always smell bullshit. If it stinks then it's usually there. Along with the ever present attorney with a bow tie waiting in the background to get a piece of the prize. And then there is the walking mop. All the usual victims.
All over a scoop....

Bleep bloop said...

1st year law student. Something smells like a setup for a future civil rights lawyer/activist.

Like Braxton. Getting arrested is actually how he gets elected with hos credibility improved by those actions.

Anonymous said...

She's a "First Year Law Student" who just happens to be 30 years old. Her story gets bigger each time she speaks to the media, before long they will have all put on MAGA hat tied a noose around her neck and poured bleach on her.

Anonymous said...

When is the media going to report that it was CMPDs riot police that responded to Gastonia???

Anonymous said...

@811pm nails it, the lady is a tramp.

Cedar's is the man.

Anonymous said...

Trespass her for life from the property, problem solved. Plus it will be a lot safer without her entitled attitude, that will eventually get some innocent fool murdered by the BLM terrorist group.

Anonymous said...

To 10:29, I doubt this clown will try to stir the shit at RO's. Step inside to admire the 2nd amendment posters and warnings, and it would take 2 seconds to rethink that decision. This place has also been in business for generations, is in a criminally bad neighborhood, and has seen plenty of trouble in the lot. Gtown has gotten soft from all the yankees invading the past 20 yrs.

SteveN said...

So. This piece of shit agitator who staged and caused the 'incident' and the ensuing riots wants to "sit down" and speak with Tony's management.

Please. Dear God, NO! Don't give that piece of shit ANY credibility. The only response (if there is one) should be 'we have no interest in speaking with her, and the ban stands. If she steps one foot on our property, she'll be arrested and charged'.

Some others here already brought up other good points. 30-year old first-year law student??? Really?

Act like an ass? Kick a foot placed there. Hard.

Anonymous said...

Exactly. This idiot does not need a platform. If they fold to her demands then they are just opening the door for other idiots with a cause...
If you cant go there to just enjoy a shake without pushing your agenda then just go to DQ. Ban her and the problem is solved. Period. They wont be losing any business as a result.

Anonymous said...

To the stupid motherfucker that is always on here talking about his 30 years and his pension check...

CMPD is a different beast now. CMPD is not the same as it was when you split a man's head open with a flashlight and get away with it. We are wearing cameras on our bodies and we have people watching our every move.

I'm glad you made it to the golden pension, but understand the reality of the situation. We have fucking JJ as our chief! That really says it all.

Anonymous said...

2 more murders last night, is that 68? Let’s go! Keep those numbers climbing, these are rookie numbers!

Anonymous said...

Kansas City has already hit 100. We’re better than fucking KANSAS CITY. Gotta get those numbers up there 💥💥💥💥💥

Anonymous said...

Anyone else disgusted with the hypocrisy of this supposed BLM movement? I don't hear any of the city council denouncing this Black on Black crime. I don't see protests in front of the clinic on Latrobe, where more black lives have been taken in one month than have been in an entire year in our beloved Queen City. Why are there only protests when a cop shoots one? Justified or unjustified. If its a cops bullet, its an automatic protest. Look at the guy in Detroit. It was an open and shut case and they still protested. To the city council, chief and whoever the hell else... Listen up. When you give these radicals an inch, they are going to take a mile. Stand up to this lunacy and don't give in. We won't have a city much less a country if this nonsense continues.

Anonymous said...

Anyone know why Tony's is still closed? Drove by yesterday around 5 and again today just after church they are usually packed Sundays at 1. Place was empty.

Anonymous said...

1704: Gastonia PD asked that they stay closed for two weeks to let this simmer down. There were a lot of threats that the building is going to be torched. I heard they chased a lot of the out of towners out of the hotel they were staying. but in most things like this, once the cat is out of the bag, facts don't matter.
I do bet you the lines will be larger than ever once they open again.

Anonymous said...

Why doesn’t Cecil have to wear a mask when walking around the halls and basement of the LEC like the rest of us?

Anonymous said...

Twitter is such a sewer but it is a great place to understand how this idiocy gets started. The ACLU just posted that CMPD once again "brutally attacked peaceful protestors". AMFAO

Anonymous said...

Rather than risk losing an election our local elected officials will embrace this sort of insanity knowing it is total BS. What a pile of crap.

Anonymous said...

11:55. Cecil got a mask for his penis. All dat dick slanging goings on that’s what you need to worry about. Cecil got caught up with some Poonanee

Anonymous said...

433,

What yall niggas even talking about, man? Im tryna get caught with Stella on the low down. What up with that Stukey video, too?

Anonymous said...

Haven’t heard from the G4S guy in awhile. What’s up dawg ????
😆

Anonymous said...

17:57 Just think you guys got drafted into CMPD, we know you didnt volunteer to work at that place. Just think in 10 years you might have 20 yrs in and 10 to go. The thought is way to funny. You wont make it, only 12 percent of the people that go through the CMPD Academy actually get a pension. have fun Dick Tracy

Anonymous said...

1904 hours, Brother, you are not alone. I see what you see. Who the fuck signs up for 30 years in today's world.

G4S guy, is the pay any good? It looks like its all black guys and old guys. What is the special police compared to the lazy guys wearing suits?

Anonymous said...

20;33 I dont know what a G4S gets paid, i was just fucking with the other guy. I empty porta johns, just like CMPD does.

Anonymous said...

G4S CPO you gettin $13.50 an hour to start! If you're super sharp and can actually show up for your gig standing around some building lobby somewhere after 6 months you will get a .25-.50cent per hour raise. Keep it all straight, shoot for the stars, and after a couple of years you're raking in $15 an hour as a, "site supervisor" which really means you're calling all the $13.50 an hour folks asking why the F they ain't at their damn post!

Anonymous said...

1126, lololololol so tru

Anonymous said...

Honestly...being some washed up security guard at BOA sounds really good compared to this LEC bullshit. Thats where most of the lazy asses wind up when its all over.