COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – Residents and Businesses were shocked by an incident that happened on Thursday, when a truck approached the University of Utah Women’s Basketball team in downtown Coeur d’Alene and yelled racial slurs at Black members.
Businesses, like Mix it Up Home and Mix It Up Gift owned by Beth Rich, said that this does not represent the community as a whole.
“In a lot of regards, it’s the antithesis of who we really are,” Rich said.
Rich said that this community is overwhelmingly nice and she gets comments from those visiting her stores that comment on the hospitality of the city.
When she heard about what had happened on the same street that both of her businesses are on, she was disappointed.
“It kind of comes back to a few bad apples spoiling the whole bunch. It is not who we are, it’s not what we want to represent, and so, it’s easy for it to gain attention, but it is not representative of who we are,” Rich said.
Ray Verbrugge, a Hayden resident, said that incidents like this are rare, but not unheard of.
“I have witnessed it. It’s unfortunate, I think sometimes, Coeur d’Alene has a little bit of a reputation, somewhat undeserved…” Verbrugge said.
Overall he said the community is very welcoming.
“[In] my experience, being here and I have lived in other places as well, I have traveled extensively, Coeur d’Alene is a wonderful place, and for the most part it is very very welcoming,” Verbrugge said.
For the impact this will leave on the city, Rich said she doesn’t believe this should reflect on the city, nor the local businesses.
“I don’t think so, I don’t think it does, I think you have to take it in light of exactly what it was. And quite honestly I wouldn’t give anybody the power to tarnish the name of the city.” Rich said.
