By Dee Longfellow
For The Elmhurst Independent
A business in downtown Elmhurst has taken a political stand – exercising his First Amendment Rights — and isn’t afraid to let the public know.
Dulles Cleaners, owned by John Dulles, reportedly had a sign posted in the window of the dry-cleaning business at 128 No. Addison St. that read: “Pray for The Removal of Demonic Chinese Influence in our Country.” Dulles Cleaners was printed at the bottom of the sign. On Sunday morning, the sign was not there. Dulles said it only appeared on the Internet because others posted it there.
A neighbor named Vera Chan posted the following on facebook: “Why does the Elmhurst community support a business that spreads hatred and racism? Shame on Dulles Cleaners and shame on anyone that supports John Dulles.”
Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ECCI) president & CEO John R. Quigley reached out to Mrs. Chan, concerned about her view of the local business. Quigley noted that Dulles Cleaners is not a member of the ECCI.
“The ECCI tries to lead by example – joining both RESPECT Elmhurst and the Elmhurst Pride Collective – and condemns all forms of racism, sexism and [other forms of discrimination],” he said. “While ECCI has no authority to supervise the actions of individual businesses or their owners, consumers can economically voice their opinions by choosing whom to patronize or not.”
Dulles Cleaners owner explains his concerns
The Elmhurst Independent was able to reach Dulles on Monday morning.
“Here’s the truth,” Dulles told the Independent, “five months ago, I made a sign that said the Chinese people were responsible for COVID and that was a mistake. I realized what I should have said was the Chinese communist government was responsible, not the Chinese people.
“I’ve always had signs on the walls [of my business] and changed them every week. You can tell that I’m a Republican and a Trump supporter and people will walk by the store and scrunch up their face in disapproval or even give ‘the finger.’
“Someone took a picture of that sign [about the Chinese people] and posted on the Internet and that’s when everyone started calling me a racist, they’re trying to smear me. I took the sign down five months ago and apologized for the fact that I referred to the Chinese people rather than their government.
“I strongly believe these are Democrats out to smear me. If they disagree with you, they call you a racist. They want you to cower in the corner, well, I don’t do that, I don’t cower. I made a mistake, that mistake happened five months ago and I have apologized for it. I really believe this is a Democratic smear and that’s fine, we can disagree, that’s fine, that’s American. But don’t go on the Internet and smear me.
“I have a First Amendment right to put what I want into my business. Has it hurt my business, well, if people decide they won’t go to a place, that’s America, you have a right to choose where to go. We’re afraid to express our First Amendment rights sometimes. And then if people disagree, they call you a racist.
“I’m not a racist, my father came here as an immigrant from Greece that those immigrants were treated poorly when they first arrived. My father was never a racist, he started this business and it’s still here today.
“I’m going to make another sign, on one side will be an apology to the Chinese people again – although that sign was gone five months ago. The other side will read ‘Only God gets to judge us. The ultimate judge is God.’”
