Hawthorne business owner faces backlash over rainbow-colored Statue of Liberty on SR20

A Hawthorne business owner is receiving intense backlash online over his installment of a miniature Statue of Liberty painted with rainbow stripes along State Road 20.

Hawthorne residents took to a private Facebook group for town residents to express their distaste on Friday for the statue put up by Ed Witty, owner of coffee house and business center Witty's Imaginarium. Hundreds of commenters took issue with what they interpreted to be as pro-LGBTQ messaging, and others criticized the use of an iconic American landmark to spread the message.

Criticism of Witty on Facebook escalated to the point where residents were sharing Witty's home address and personal details. Eventually, a group admin posted a message discouraging hate speech and "bickering."

Witty later defended the statue in a Friday afternoon Facebook post.

"... I thought it was beautiful symbology to mix the rainbow, the symbol of everything good when I was a kid, with Lady Liberty. Man’s promise wrapped in G-d’s promise. I didn’t realize the symbology would be so easily misunderstood. Hateful people jump to hateful conclusions so they can practice their trade, which is hate. I pray for you. I am intending to cultivate the site as a pop-up park, but for now it is simply a reminder that we can choose to love or we can choose to hate. That is the one and only message. ..."

The statue, located directly west of the Hawthorne High School football stadium along Southeast Hawthorne Road, sits on private property, according to Hawthorne Mayor Jacquelyn Randall.

"While the statue is on private property, I find it distasteful that the individual did not engage in a discussion with the city before proceeding with a project that would affect the entire community. This unilateral approach does not align with the spirit of community collaboration," Randall said in a text message to The Gainesville Sun. "I have reached out to the city attorney to ensure no steps of compliance were missed on the city’s side of this matter."

When asked about the homophobic speech directed toward Witty and about the statue, Randall said she didn't know what the statue represented.

"I cannot speak to the owner’s intent of this statue," she wrote. "I don’t know what it represents and I believe that point is the true outcry from the residents."

In the days following the backlash, Witty has posted multiple times in the Hawthorne Facebook group with information about the statue and his plan for the 1.5 acres of land it sits on.

Witty said he plans to develop a garden, complete with landscaping, picnic areas, a sculpture garden and a little library. He said he envisions a lively spot open to the public meant to bring vibrancy to the community and attract visitors.

The next steps in his plan, according to his Facebook posts, include getting water and electricity to the site, landscaping the area and installing a decorative signpost.

"I am one guy building my small business alongside others in this town," Witty wrote. "We are each doing what we think is best, and since we are business owners were are taking the risks and we get to make certain choices. Some people will like our choices and some people will not. That is true of just about everything."