GUTHRIE, Okla. -- NAACP officials said the recent closing of two Guthrie, Okla., Love's convenience stores was racially motivated, reported the Associated Press.
A Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc. spokesperson said the closure was for safety reasons at the recommendation of Guthrie police. Jenny Love Meyer said the stores closed from 1:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. after a large group of people came in about 10:00 p.m. and became "unruly" after a Langston University homecoming party earlier this month.
She said after a Langston [image-nocss] Homecoming two years ago about 40 people went into the store and intimidated employees and stole thousands of dollars of merchandise.
But local NAACP President Roosevelt Milton said the store management could have added extra security if they were worried about the safety of employees or theft.
He added that some Langston alumni and students believe the closing was a race-based decision. Love's chairman Tom Love met with Langston officials; university president JoAnn Haysbert said she appreciates the response.
Separately, Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores raised more than $370,375 for the Children's Miracle Network in 2006, 21% more than in 2005.
According to the Tecumseh Countywide News, the Tecumseh, Okla., location contributed $1,099 through in-store fundraisers during September.
Greg Love, co-president of Love's, told the newspaper, "I am appreciative of our customers and proud of the hard work from store manager Dave Emptage and his team in the CMN campaign. Through their hard work and generosity we are able to help children's hospitals in our areas.
Love's has more than 90 travel stops located on the nation's highways and 70 country stores in Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.