In the wake of vandalism on Sunday at a local Asian eatery and calls to boycott the once-popular Downtown Palm Springs business, Dan Ball is taking to task the city’s LGBTQ leadership for not doing more to calm the frenzied rhetoric and actions that he says will destroy a business.
(Photo Courtesy of Dan Ball for Congress)
“I don’t understand why an all-LGBTQ council, in a city that prides itself on tolerance and acceptance, will not condemn the actions of these hundreds of individuals online, spewing hatred and bigotry against Wang’s, boycotting it, ruining a business with 50 employees, mainly from the Latino and Gay community,” Ball told Uken Report. “We see no condemnation from the City Council.”
He also called out Democratic Congressman Dr. Raul for not stepping in to stop the protests.
“You know by reading those posts, these are his supporters,” Ball said. “Because they have said, ‘How dare you, Wang’s? You traitor. Support Ruiz. Don’t vote Dan. No Wang’s, no way.’ OK?”
In a statement to Uken Report on Monday, Campaign Manager Andy Colgan said, “Dr. Ruiz believes vandalism in any form is unacceptable and there is no place for it in civil discourse. He encourages anyone with information to come forward to law enforcement.”
Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz
Palm Springs Mayor Robert Moon could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.
Ball, who is one of four people seeking the Republican nomination to unseat Ruiz in the 2018 mid-term election, said he would not talk about his controversial fundraising manager, which is why Uken Report contacted him in the first place.
“That’s all I’m going to talk about is supporting Wang’s. We need to condemn these actions because you know as well as I do, if that spray paint said, Ruiz supporter, there would be an all-out war. Let’s be real. People would be screaming from the rooftops. So, we’re not going to pivot and divert.”
The calls to boycott Wang’s in the Desert ignited after Ball posted pictures of himself at the restaurant following a fundraiser in December on his Facebook page. Scores of people, many in the LGBTQ community, peppered Facebook with calls to boycott the restaurant.
“That’s not tolerance,” Ball said. “That’s not acceptance. That’s not freedom of speech. And for a small majority, I think it’s a small, I would hope so, for a small group of individuals from that city to attack a business, which is gay-owned, and try to ruin their business disgusts me.”
Ball said he’s seen Facebook posts from Columbus, Ohio to Orlando, Fla., and Los Angeles encouraging people to boycott this restaurant.
“To throw these men that own this business, and these workers, under the bus for simply allowing me to have a gathering is disgusting, Ball said. “This is not about my campaign, Cindy. This is about injustice, intolerance, bigotry, and hatred.”
