BUTTE - When the owner of Spirited Roots Daycare in Butte started a new dress code policy banning clothing with messages she believes are divisive, the blow-back was strong.
“It’s been mad, it’s been totally crazy,” said owner Timber Crooker.
The policy includes banning shirts that include guns, racism, misogyny, homophobia, “Build the Wall” slogans, and shirts that glorify war, the military, and police.
Many people posted critical messages on Facebook about the daycare’s policy and called for a boycott of the business.
Crooker claims some of the posts contain indirect threats. “I have seen people comment things like, ‘I just want to see her face, I just want to see what she looks like, let me catch her in public, I exercise my Second Amendment right,’” said Crooker.
Moved by the recent Black Lives Matter protests, Crooker said she wants her business to promote a philosophy of love and inclusivity.
“As long as people of color in this country are being disproportionately arrested, disproportionately, incarcerated and disproportionately murdered, I won’t stop and I’m not going to back down from the policy,” Crooker said. “It’s not that I’m against the police force at all, I do think that we need a police force (that) needs to be altered.”
Along with all the negative feedback, Crooker says she has also received a lot of positive support.
“I’ve honestly had an outpouring of love and respect from people just stepping up and sending me messages of support which has been huge for me. I’m honestly — I’m surprised by it,” she said.
