Wes Glenna threatens business over politics

Two Rivers student wearing a Pro-Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker T-shirt causes stir

Original Post: Post Crecent

Written by
Suzanne Weiss

TWO RIVERS — When a Two Rivers High School student wore a green T-shirt supporting Gov. Scott Walker to school in late February, it set off a dispute involving a local business and the president of the Two Rivers Education Association.

B&D Embroidery & Screen Printing in Two Rivers made the shirt for the student on request, said Bridget VanGinkel, owner of the business with her husband, David.

The shirt says “Scott Walker My Hero!” on the front and “He’s Got Nads!” on the back.

On Feb. 24, VanGinkel said the business received what they perceived as a veiled threat of a boycott in an e-mail from Wes Glenna, president of the TREA and chairman of the technical education department at the high school.

Bridget VanGinkel forwarded to the Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter Glenna’s e-mail, sent from his school e-mail address after 10 p.m. It said:

“I was recently informed that you have plans to print pro-Walker shirts for some of the students in the Two Rivers School system. After checking out your website, I noticed that a great deal of your business comes from providing apparel to the Two Rivers, Manitowoc, and Mishicot school systems. I, really, don’t know what you’re thinking of.

“We, all, greatly appreciate the fact that you established your business in our community. However, have you taken the time to figure out how your recent decision could result in the loss of profits to your business?”

It was signed Wes Glenna, President, Two Rivers Education Association.

Glenna also sent the e-mail to all members of the teachers union in the Two Rivers district, VanGinkel said.

The store has been getting mostly negative phone calls and comments on Facebook since Glenna sent the e-mail, she said.

“It’s spreading like wildfire,” she said. “It was inappropriate. It’s not right.”

The e-mail wasn’t meant to encourage a boycott of the business, but merely questioned whether the owners thought about the consequences, Glenna said.

The objection to the shirt wasn’t that it displayed a political statement, but because it contained inappropriate language on the back, he said.