To All the Small Business Owners what would you do in this situation?

Question

I have 5 employees at my pc shop I hired early this past fall who are paroled prison inmates from a medium security prison and trying to get their lives on track (their crimes range from dui to armed robbery of liquor/convienience stores)

Recently I have become the target of protest by christian orginizations because I hired these individuals meanwhile since their release from prison none of them have done even the smallest thing to arouse police suspicion and invoke arrest by the local police dept

I'm catchin all kindsa hell from christian groups who constantly protest outside my shop and I run a small pc repair shop in ohio

I don't want to fire these individuals that are working for me because they are some of the best employees I have ever had and are really doing well on this 2nd chance but the christian groups are making it hard for customers to come to my shop

What would you do in this situation I need to know and the city council and local police dept are no help???

Answer 1

Contact the nearest large newspaper and TV stations. They love stuff like this - "Local businessman harassed by religious group (Name) because he gives criminals a second chance."

Write a letter to the Editor of the local newspaper.

Also call-in to local talk shows and publicize your plight.

This will highlight the fact that they have another agenda rather than "Christian charity", and good will toward men.

While they have the right to protest, they do not have the right to disrupt your business, see if you can get police protection to provide customers with "secure access" to your business.

If they refuse, or half-heartedly patrol, contact the State Attorney General's Office and file a complaint, and ask for State Police to protect your business. In addition, write a letter to the US Attorney General requesting that he look into the situation, since you may feel that your civil rights may be violated.

Some other options: Have a group of friends, and friends of employees counter-picket with signs that read: "Can you tell who is the criminal?"

Picket their churches/ houses of worship with signs that say: "Pray for Forgiveness" - Don't forget to inform the TV stations that you will be picketing the "houses of worship"

Your employees have paid their debt to society and deserve a chance to straighten out their lives. You are among the very few that have provided such an opportunity. You shouldn't be persecuted.

Answer 2

First problem - how did they find out who you hired and what their background was? Unless you have a sign in the window that says "I hire ex-cons" then there is a weak link somewhere in your organization. Find it and find out why they reported you to the 'groups' of protestors.

Need more information for a better answer - For example, how many different groups are protesting? What is the total number of protestors, and what exactly are they protesting against? And what are they doing in protest - assembling a picket line, harassing your customers, threatening your store?

Have you tried contacting leadership of any or all of the groups to explain what you are doing and why?

Answer 3

I am a born again believer in Jesus Christ and I am outraged at those Christians behavior.Do not fire those guys. Contact your local Prison Fellowship for assistance as well as Christian Legal Society,I N P M INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF PRISON MINISTRIES, Mike Barber Ministries, and the ACLJ for assistance.