Police are in the early stages of an investigation following a dayslong demonstration at a downtown Jackson skincare business, JH Mountain Glow.
Two protestors held signs outside the business over three days last week warning of “high pressure” sales tactics. One man identified himself as Ethan Millay, but both declined to state where they were from.
“I have family members who have been targets of these high pressure tactics,” Millay said, “I just want to make sure people are aware of their rights.” He declined to give more details of who was targeted and how.
Shop employees held other signs defending the business. Employees said they felt some statements from Millay and his partner were antisemitic.
Owner David Ben David said his staff, many of whom are Jewish, heard the protestors talking in derogatory terms about Jewish people.
“I think it’s a racist thing because I don’t see any other reason [to protest],” he said.
Millay denied any race-based complaint with the business, which has operated in a storefront off Broadway for about three years. The majority of 86 business reviews on Google are positive. The theme of nine negative reviews echo Millay’s complaints that customers felt pressured into expensive purchases.
It’s too early to say if police are investigating the demonstrators, the company or both, said Jackson Police Lt. Russ Ruschill on Monday. In interactions viewed by KHOL, both sides alleged the other stalked and intentionally used their signs to hit others. Both were filming each other.
Ben David said he tried to ask how to remedy the situation and that the shop offers refunds.
“If somebody is unhappy for whatever reason, I’m always trying to make them happy,” he said.
The scuffle came just weeks after town councilors approved a new ordinance that clamps down on how businesses can attract customers.
JH Mountain Glow employees often stand outside the front door, handing out free samples and encouraging passersby to explore treatments. Inside, popular creams are about $200 a bottle and, on the high end, a year of treatment can go for up to $4,000, Ben David said.
Ruschill said the ordinance was drafted directly in response to JH Mountain Glow. Jackson Mayor Arne Jorgensen said it was more broad.
That rule reads, in part, that no one may “attract or attempt to attract people to a place of business by calling, shouting, hocking, ringing any bells, horn, sounding any siren or other noise-making noise, or by waving, hailing, or otherwise signaling to passersby, or touching or physically detaining them.”
Jorgensen didn’t witness the small protest but said he took the concerns about threats and hate speech seriously.
He said the ordinance aims, in part, to clamp down on “aggressive business practices,” after people in town said customers felt “harassed” or hurried past to avoid interacting with JH Mountain Glow employees. He said it aims to balance the rights of private citizens and free speech.
