US store displays racist window signs about Obama, Muslims

Washington, Jan 2 (IANS) A convenience store in New Mexico has sparked outrage over controversial window signs that target US President Barack Obama and Muslims, the media reported.

The Mayhill Convenience Store in US' southwestern New Mexico state has reportedly displayed the signs for years and has even sold them to customers, the Independent reported on Monday.

The store faced growing calls to take down racist window signs. One sign in particular read: "Obama & other Muslims not welcome here".

"It's been here a long time," former store employee Marlon McWilliams said, adding that the owner also sold signs that targeted Hillary and Bill Clinton and advertised "Obama toilet paper".

Last year, the store reportedly displayed a sign which read: "Kill Obama".

Another sign targeted NFL player Colin Kapaernick, who famously protested at police violence against black people by kneeling during the national anthem, calling the athlete an "overpaid half breed" who should "go back to Africa".

Social media users have been criticising the racist posters but no one has made a complaint.

One Facebook user wrote a review for the store's Facebook page saying that the owner does not have the right to discriminate against people in the name of free speech.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil rights advocacy group, issued a statement over the offensive signs.

"While everyone has the right to free speech, we urge the store's owner to remove the sign in the interest of our nation's unity at a time of increasing divisions," said Ibrahim Hooper, national communications director of CAIR.

CAIR said there were more than 900 anti-Muslim incidents after Donald Trump was elected US President, including Muslim women being targeted and mosques being threatened.