Alleged business boycott was not organized or endorsed
The October 26 letter to the editor from Michael Barnacz contains false information regarding an alleged organized boycott of local businesses in the Souderton area. Some area residents have contacted local businesses regarding political signs on their property to clarify if these signs are an endorsement of political candidates. Local business owners certainly have the right to exercise their freedom of speech, but patrons also have a right to use their purchasing power to support or oppose businesses that embrace moral or political beliefs contrary to their own.
Many residents in the Souderton area are appalled by the blatantly partisan and toxic political environment perpetuated by supporters of the incumbent candidates for the Souderton Area School Board. Additionally, some of the campaign signs found throughout the Souderton area are in violation of local municipal ordinances. Mr. Barnacz falsely claims that business owners were threatened by individuals directly involved with the Swindells for School Board Campaign. To set the record straight: there is no organized boycott movement, Scott Swindells has not endorsed or advocated for a formal boycott, nor has Souderton Area for Responsible Leadership.
Many of the residents who oppose the incumbent candidates do so out of deeply held convictions and beliefs and have every right to express those beliefs through their words and actions. In a free market economic system, business owners should carefully consider their political endorsements and affiliations or risk alienating potential customers.
People who “espouse tolerance, love, and diversity of thought” choose to take action when they observe groups espousing intolerance, close-mindedness, false accusations and spreading lies and disinformation throughout our community — these are not attributes becoming of individuals who want to have a leadership role in educating our next generation. In one opinion, this author is correct — our community is better than this.