A Maine business owner has defended ticketing and towing illegally-parked vehicles belonging to mosque worshippers whilst playing songs including the national anthem and novelty tracks during Friday prayers, dismissing racism allegations as unfair accusations against legitimate enforcement of private property rights.
Matthew Theriault, general manager of Mid Valley Motors and Leonard Heavy Duty Towing Company in Lewiston, rejected claims his actions targeted Muslims attending the neighbouring Masjidu Salaam Mosque, stating: “If you park illegally, you will be towed. We just want to go about running our businesses. There’s no racial or religious thing to this—a red Honda Civic is a red Honda Civic.”
The controversy erupted after the mosque accused Lewiston Police Department of conducting “numerous unnecessary and targeted parking enforcement sweeps” during religious services, with a spokesperson telling the Lewiston Sun-Journal that authorities were “ignoring their responsibility to keep the community safe to instead focus on a right-wing grievance.”
However, Mid Valley Motors alongside a local butcher and Italian bakery have all recently ticketed worshippers’ vehicles using their private parking lots without purchasing anything, with many citations issued to cars obstructing or blocking driveways.
The dispute intensified following Theriault’s decision playing loud music from speakers during Muslim worship, including the Star-Spangled Banner, “Who Let the Dogs Out,” “I’m a Little Teapot” and “What Does the Fox Say?”—the latter blasted on a 10-hour loop 3 April with the business’s Facebook page encouraging locals stopping by for a “dance party.”
Muslim worshippers suggested the “dogs” song title represented a racist reference, though Theriault denied such intentions whilst his 10 April播放 of the national anthem prompted further complaints.
Police responded to noise-related complaints and spoke with the towing company, though worshippers allege music continued after officers departed.
Theriault defended the practice via Facebook: “Not sure what kind of world we live in where my daughter dancing in our shop driveway to children’s songs is considered hate. We also played the national anthem at 12 sharp, god bless America and many other songs ours sons and fathers have died standing for.”
He added: “If pride in our country is now considered hate speech i’d suggest you pack your sh*t and get out cause we aren’t goin anywhere.”
The business owner emphasized his enforcement applied universally, citing a recent US Census Bureau worker towing for illegal parking, whilst sharing a Facebook photograph of a hijab-wearing woman gesturing obscenely after her vehicle was towed.
The mosque—operating from before dawn until 11pm daily with Fridays representing the busiest service day—was granted planning permission last month doubling its parking lot size.
