Activists call Red Bank restaurant racist; business files police report for harassment

RED BANK, Tenn. — The owner of Shuford’s Smokehouse in Red Bank filed a police report after, she says, she received harassing phone calls and messages.

Madison Davis, the owner, believes people in the Black Lives Matter matter movement targeted her business, while activists say, this business supported an event that is trying take away from their message.

The dispute has even prompted U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn to speak out.

"It is of concern when you have groups that think they can shut a business down simply because they don't agree with the way that business is running, when it is a legal business that is operating in that community in good faith," says Sen. Blackburn.

“When the threat came in to burn the business, that’s when we said this has crossed the line,” said Davis.

She says Shuford’s faced backlash for taking a catering order. The customer who placed the order told the business the food was going to Saturday’s “Back the Blue” rally.

When Cameron Williams, who leads the “I Can’t Breathe CHA” organization, found out about the catering order, he posted on social media asking his supporters to boycott the business.

After repeated calls and messages on social media, Davis filed a police report (which you can see below) and says they told the customer they weren’t going to fill their order. Davis says a $1,000 order wasn't worth the risk of losing one of their businesses that they've worked hard to reopen. She said after pulling out, she got more calls calling her a coward.

“It’s like what side do you want to be on? Do you want to be a coward or do you want to be a racist? I don’t want to be either one. I’m just trying to run a business,” said Davis.

“It just seems as if they're backpedaling, trying to appease people instead of really making a stand for truth and justice," said Williams. He admits he called the business racist on social media. That post was shared about 50 times and racked up 150 comments.

“They [Shuford’s] should have backed out, and instead of victim blaming and saying 'You guys are being mean to us,' they should have said ‘Hey we made a mistake, but we’re with you. We’re with all human life,’ and then our response would have been different,” said Williams.

Williams says Saturday’s “Back the Blue” event, where people rallied behind the police department, was hurtful to the Black community. He believes the event takes away from the BLM members' demands for justice.

“This [Back the Blue rally] is in direct response to Black and Brown people and their allies asking for justice, equality and equitable investment,” said Williams.

We reached out to the Red Bank Police Department multiple times to clarify why this police report that says no threats were issued in the harassment. We haven’t heard back.