Agitated Business Owner Disrupts Black Lives Matter Protest In Shelburne Falls

By JULIE CUNNINGHAM

(Shelburne Falls, MA) Recently during a Black Lives Matter protest in Shelburne Falls Massachusetts a business owner and artist became disruptive and agitated during the event. A peaceful moment meant to remember George Floyd turned tense when a man identified as John Sendelbach appeared to become angry about the protest. The video, seen here, goes on for about 13 minutes and shows Sendelbach in a tense verbal confrontation with Black Lives Matter protesters.

“I’m not going to be a slave like all of these people on my knees to you,” Sendelbach can be heard replying when he is confronted about his disruption by an unidentified protester during a moment of silence for George Floyd.

“We already had a moment of silence,” Sendelbach replied when he is shushed by the protesters. “Black Lives Matter creates chaos,” Sendelbach went on.

Protesters engaged with Sendelbach verbally about his perception of racial issues, at one point calling him complicit. “All we are asking is that you give them a tiny bit of respect for eight minutes,” an unidentified protester can be heard asking Sendelbach.

Protesters also referenced their Constitutional First Amendment Right to Protest and noted that the police officers’ presence was to protect that right, a point which Sandelbach took issue with when he said the officers should be out fighting crime.

“I’ve never heard of the Constitution what’s that?” Sendelbach asked sarcastically. “You’re creating more of a divide by saying Black Lives Matter. Say All Lives Matter,” Sendelbach continued.

Sendelbach appeared increasingly agitated during the confrontation with protesters, and now people are calling for the removal of his art pieces from the Shelburne Falls. The petition, “Remove John Sendelbach’s Art from Shelburne Falls,” was reportedly removed from Change.org before it reached upwards of 600 signatures. It is unclear as to why the petition was removed from the website. The focus of the petition is a bench that Sendelbach created that is at one of the entrances to the bridge.