In Atlanta, a Black business owner expressed his disbelief and shock after the Trump campaign held an event at his barbershop. Rocky Jones, the owner of Rocky’s Barbershop, stated that he is proud of his business and welcomes customers from all backgrounds. To him, his business has always been about serving his community and having meaningful conversations.
Jones said that his barbershop had never hosted a political event before the day before the presidential debate in Atlanta when prominent Republicans gathered inside. Even former President Trump called in during the event, leaving Jones feeling betrayed. He had been under the impression that he was hosting a small Black business roundtable with no mention of it being a political event. He never heard from a Trump campaign representative either.
The timing of the event did not initially raise any red flags for Jones as he believed it to be a community-focused event. However, he now understands the importance of being more cautious and doing proper research before agreeing to host any events in the future. Jones urged other business owners to exercise caution when receiving similar requests, even if they come from someone they trust.
Although Jones received compensation for closing his business for the event, he is now willing to return it. Despite reaching out to the Trump campaign for a response, Atlanta News First was unable to get one in time for their report. Jones wants other business owners to be aware of the potential dangers of agreeing to host events without conducting thorough due diligence.