GAFFNEY, S.C. (WSPA) – A little less than two weeks ago, Lyman Dawkins III was elected mayor of Gaffney.
Dawkins III made history by becoming the city’s first Black mayor.
Since his historic win, a business has been boarded up and spray-painted. One phrase says “Welcome to Dawkinsville.” Another says “Back in 4 years when the circus is gone.”
Other businesses nearby expressed discomfort with the message.
“It doesn’t look good, it’s just not something that attracts people to downtown,” said Abe Duenas, the owner of Soled Out. “We have so many things that are going good for us, so to have something like this, it’s hard to argue it’s a step forward, it feels like it’s a step back.”
Business owners tell us they feel it creates a divide between one another.
“We’re trying to get everybody to be together as one and for all businesses to collaborate with each other,” said Hector Montes, co-owner of Hector’s Garden. “For the …