A camera store that had been trading for 109 years got caught in the crossfire of riots taking place in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake. President Trump has visited the former site of Rode’s Camera Shop after it was burned to the ground during the protests.
Current owner Tom Gram had been an employee at the store for 41 years before taking the reins from the Rode family, who opened the shop back in 1911. Gram ran the shop with business partner Paul Willette, who detailed the devastating sentimental losses to Kenosha News:
This was just a building, but people’s memories were inside. That’s what is killing me. A woman had just come in Monday and brought in a photo of her grandparents in elementary school, wanting it to be restored. I left it on my desk. Now, it’s all gone. Our customers lost family memories.
“We understand the protests, but why destroy these businesses?” added Gram.
So historic is the store that even President Trump paid the site a visit, despite the co-owners stating outright that they “didn’t want anything to do with President Trump.” Despite the current owners declining the visitation offer, former owner John Rode III was drafted in to host the President. “I just appreciate President Trump coming today; everybody here does,” Rode said.
So, what’s next for the store owners? Gram says he’ll likely retire earlier than originally planned, while Willette says he’ll be looking for a new job, although he didn’t specify if it would be in the same field.
All images Shealah Craighead, courtesy of the White House.
#camerastorematter
Before burning it down to the ground it was plundered in the BLM/Antifa tradition?
Congratulations you rioting fools! Everything you do hurts your "cause."
How do you know that wasn't an alt-right provocation?
I would say that you have "social" media disconnect. Get new friends, keep your older ones and think. You need to see two sides to understand both, otherwise you waste your time.
I'm so glad I'm not an American and can view what is happening there as an outsider. Both 'sides' seem to be so hopelessly locked into their group view that they disregard anything else as a lie.
It seems to be the nature of US citizens with the loudest voice. Their whole political system thrives on polarisation. You have to pick sides and defend it no matter what. This results in every theme, every issue, every problem is a divide. Not a debat or discussion to work towards a solution, no it's a Mexican stand off. And the first one who tries to find common grounds or condemns the wrong doing on both sides, is attacked by both sides for being "weak". Even if you are wrong, even if your "team" crosses the line with lies and violence. "What line?" is the answer then. To an outsider it almost appears it's worse to pick no side than to lose. And the silent majority doesn't want to step in or fears to be humiliated and stays silent. And nothing changes ever. Just two sides growing apart.
What are the hateful beliefs?
BLM is "anti American"? How so? It is an uprising, a resistance. Do you actually know the per capita police shooting statistics? What happens in America is sad, it can only be found in dictatorships and totalitarian regimes. Just look at the numbers in all of Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand and / or India, the largest democracy on the planet. In my ears still rings the observation that since Trump "America is a nation of two hostile tribes." It is stunning how many most positive terms will be literally perverted, turned upside down in the American media. The most prominent example is the term "liberal," what is outside of the US universally a positive term, describing people pursuing reason, freedom and economic reality in a gentle way. Here it has been turned into some form of a hostile label. It is even used in a derogatory meaning to attack political opponents: "he/she is a radial liberal." No, radical is opposite of liberal. You are either radical, or you are liberal.
You seem to spend way too much time on Facebook reading posts from your Russian buddies, Миша. Facebook algorithms bubble posts based on your previous interest, and unfortunately this disinformation and hate is all you see. Look at real public news outlets and do some fact checking if you care.
Tammie, now that time has passed, look back and see how stupid your question was.
Just about all the protests around the US are peaceful. But there is a different, opportunistic element that shows up at night. Those folks are not protesters.
Rioters don't have a cause... protesters do.
Is the cause doing "good" or "evil"?
I don't use terms like 'good' and 'evil' they don't describe anything that exists outside of religious texts.
They are all peaceful protesters.
The original/previous owner stood in for the photo op. The current owner didn’t want to participate in Trumps plan.
As everyone could read in the article.
I just wish the US didn't split everything into a partisan issue. The rioting is bad, but so is excessive police force. As always this issue will be used by politicians for show and nothing will change. Which is to the detriment of everybody.
Exactly. I remain politically independent because 'both sides' aren't working for anyone in the US.
Both wings are from the same bird.
The trouble is some people see something amplified in the media that is extremely rare (i.e. police killing an unarmed person) and believe it happens every day. If they looked at things objectively (real stats), they might react appropriately and actually start a reasonable and rational dialogue with the other side.
Like I said, rare, but your link doesn’t lend credibility to itself by calling the Ferguson incident “police brutality.”
It is not rare, it is on the level of Venezuela, or any other junta or dictatorship. Just inform yourself before writing here the ad hoc factual falsehood. The conduct of the police here is a stain on this society, it must change.
The deadly shootings are just the tip of the iceberg. Talk to some black people who grew up in poor neighborhoods and they will tell you plenty of stories of people being mistreated by police for no good reason and without consequences. Often they get get jailed with trumped up charges ("Wanna plead guilty and get 3 years or maintain innocence and get 25? Your choice. Make sure you can afford a good lawyer") . The stories I have heard simply don't happen to white and affluent people at the same number.
US police and the whole legal system definitely have a massive problem with over-prosecuting poor people and often non-white people. The US has 5% of the world population and 25% of the prison population. Something is going very, very wrong there.
Everything you said is worth examining in a mature, productive way. My point is that people plug their ears and go “LA-LA-LA” to a serious issue when they see innocent people suffer at the hands of violent, unreasonable people.
That's the typical problem in this country. Either you have to ignore the rioting or you have to ignore police brutality. Somehow it's not possible to say that both need to be fixed.
Always interesting of how its excessive policing with those who fight the cops, resist the cops, cuss the cops, etc.
There is also a group of people who gets policed way more than others. When marijunana was still illegal in California the cops would constantly search people in poor neighborhoods for drugs but never in the rich ones. although you could just walk around and notice pot smell coming from these very nice houses.
This is trump's America. Instead of calming people down the Teflon Don (tm) only makes things worse by spilling extra hate and division.
No article on the PPP riot Jack? Lots of people lost their jobs and businesses during that riot. My grade on your story are L & S. Any riot is wrong and I defend neither. I do however notice that the original owner cashed in and let go the store long ago. No crying please.
Original owner sold a business but kept the building that was with a family for more than 100 years. It isn't photo op when your property is destroyed by the mob.
Yes, two owners, but not for the public address... He'll get a new building or the cash from the insurance. I hope the family paid off the building in 100 years. The owners of the shop, that's another story, lost their income, one to retire, one planning on finding a job. So yes 100% photo Op, building owner loses nothing, worst case gets a brand new more valuable building up to code. Don't even try.
If you don't pay or can't pay your insurance, you take a risk, but that has zero to do with riots. Riots are actually part of basic coverages if you do some research. It sounds that those claims of not being covered for riots are bs for media purpose.
Even if the damage was covered in any way losses are not covered in full.
You do understand that we are talking about the building here? Right? The shop owner who lost everything inside and did not want to be part of this photo op probably lost a lot yes, the building owner not. Please read before getting involved.
Understand insurance before getting involved.
That's it? You don't elaborate. What a no reply. Show me.
Vandalism and malicious damage included on standard US property policy with deductible. The problem being the amount of insurance carried if underinsured there will be a penalty. Property insurance limit of liability based on co-insurance clause usually 90 per cent of total value of property per surveyor. On any loss the insured is therefore part co-insurer. Total losses are rare which explains co-insurance clause. Moral hazard as the reason to protect insurer. As for the contents that is more of a problem. Replacement cost less depreciation equals actual cash value applied on fixtures and fittings. Major Insurance claims take years to settle usually in court. See WTC 2001 insurance court case.
Well again, that's not the situation here so I am guessing you do it in purpose. Have a good day.
Nothing says the building owner was stupid enough that he was poorly or not covered. His best outcome is probably to cash in if the value of a total loss was specified in his contract (if he is smart he did that right) and then sell the empty lot. You sound like your only experience is with used old cars which have no value at any time when it comes to insurance. This guy is going to make money out of this, or he is really not bright.
Are you still at the step where you believe the owner of the building and the owner of the shop are the same person? Looks like it.
Sounds like his family was smart enough to run the business for over 100 years and apparently in that same building for many decades. Hopefully he knew what he was doing before retiring too. If you doubt that, I suggest you call him and ask how he runs his life. This is not science dude, and even if you don't believe in science you should get some clue. I am guessing you don't believe in insurance that's becoming very clear. I'll keep answering your questions, it's entertaining.
So very simple question how did you decide it was BLM? Where you there? Could it be boogaloos or some local gang. Show your evidences. Thanks