An alley in downtown Mount Clemens that has become known for its whimsical artwork and attracts selfie-takers is now gaining attention for something more sinister.
In the past week, business owners have noticed black-and-white stickers with QR codes promoting “white lives matter” and “straight pride” were being placed in the Cherry Street alley directly across from Weirdsville Records on Macomb Place.
One shop vendor tore several down, only to see them pop back up a few hours later.
City administrators say they were taken aback by the nature of the stickers, particularly since Mount Clemens is known as a inclusive community and home of Macomb County Pride Festival that supports LGBTQ+ activities.
“We have worked with the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office, which is increasing patrols in that area,” Mayor Laura Kropp said Monday.
The alleyway is located on the northern side of Macomb Place, west of Main Street.
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Kropp said city boosters are considering adding a camera that would capture views of the alley.
Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said a police report was taken and the matter is under investigation.
“Our deputies are adding Macomb Place for extra passes, especially on the midnight shift, which may be when someone is placing these stickers,” he said.
The sheriff said investigators have to determine if a crime took place. They are focusing on whether it’s one person attempting to establish the area as evidence of racial activism or whether the incident involved hate speech and/or littering.
According to a television news report, Marcel Johnson, who owns the nearby Lil Daddy’s Cheesecakes Co., first noticed the stickers after a customer called last week to alert him.
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Johnson told WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) that he thinks “it was a high-traffic area that they wanted to target.”
Johnson tore down all of the stickers, only to discover someone had placed them back in the alley. He feels that represents repeated incidents as harassment against the community.
“It makes me more angry than anything,” Johnson told the TV station.
Local businesses like Max & Ollie’s, Paperback Writer Books store and Weirdsville Records, say they’re disappointed with whoever is trying to stir up trouble.
The Cherry Street alley project was completed in 2021 by the mother-daughter team of Angelika Wynes and Alana Wynes, who wanted to “reveal the history of the city and all of its wonders.”
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