TAUNTON, Mass. — The inside is reinforced and so is the outside of HomeTown Furnishings. The downtown Taunton business is boarded-up with plywood to protect its windows.
“I believe in everyone’s right to protest, but peacefully,” said Omar Cruz, owner of HomeTown Furnishings.
Cruz has owned the business for five years. He is fearful that the Stand Out For Peace And Justice Rally, which is scheduled for late Thursday afternoon, could turn violent, like what happened with the rallies in Boston and Brockton earlier in the week.
Cruz says he and several family and friends will be sleeping inside the business tonight to protect it against potential looters if the rally turns violent.
“I mean we’re just going to try to stop them. I mean that’s all you can do. That’s our livelihood,” Cruz said.
The event organizers say they understand the concern Cruz and the other downtown business owners have, but they expect their rally will be peaceful. They expect about 900 protestors outside the First Parish Church. “We are hoping that they recognize that black lives matter. All lives do matter, but until they recognize black lives matter this is what we feel we have to do. We have to be heard,” said Destiny Perry, co-organizer for the Stand Out For Peace And Justice Rally.
Cruz says he has lost 70% of business due to COVID-19 so he can’t afford any damage.
“Now with this, we could go out of business if something happens like this so that’s why we boarded up to make sure everyone is safe,” Cruz said.
The event organizers say anyone attending the rally must wear a wristband that they issue, so they know who belongs there.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW