How did two regular Joe’s become, unexpectedly, viral internet sensations as anti racism activists?
Travis Verrill and Jason Gordon have been friends for decades, and both own small businesses in their hometown of Norway, Maine.
Jason owns and operates Gordon and Son, a plumbing and heating business.
Travis owns a small flooring business, Tornado Tile Work, and in his spare time, a race car driver who competes at Oxford Plains Speedway.
Nothing fancy….he races a souped -up 1997 Honda Civic.
About a month after the murder of George Floyd, racist signs started appearing around their town.
Jason called Travis and they decided to do something about it themselves.
They traced the signs to an elderly man, and went to the boarding house were he was staying….he wasn’t home.
They saw him on a park bench.
As not to seem overly threatening, Jason stayed in the car whilst Travis went over to talk to the man, Richard.
They discovered they were both from the same army outfit, albeit decades apart…. the 101st Airborne Division.
"I tried to talk some sense into him.”
It didn’t take.
Here is the video they made about the incident and a message for any other racists in their town.
They intended and thought that it would be seen locally or at the most regionally….so far 10 million views worldwide and growing!
I know that there are few if any shrinking violets here...but they were righteously upset, and the language is….quintessentially Maine/New England.
Making a stand and keeping it real!
Here. Now. Uh-huh. No. Hell no. Ain’t going to happen.
"I knew I wasn't going to change his heart.
I knew his ways of thinking weren't going to be different when he woke up.
I just wanted the signs down."
Said Jason, "If every town had two guys that did the same thing, it would be a lot better world."
Added Travis, "If you honestly want to leave a better place for your children than what you came into, you gotta get out here right now and do something about it.
I feel like we're at a point right now where so many people have reached out, like it shouldn't be that hard to make a change."
And after some reflection, Travis noted one more thing on his mind.
"We had no idea this was going to go this far….
... I would've used better language."
If given the chance, I would gladly eschew my regular large carrot juice with a shot of wheatgrass, and....well, have a fucking beer with these fucking guys.