by Vasi Prokos for Fox56 News
WINCHESTER, Ky. (FOX 56) — The Clark County Fiscal Court is expected to address a controversy Thursday night that has been brewing in Winchester. Some people are upset that taxpayer money has been used to support a business they claim promotes witchcraft.
The business owner said her critics have conjured up false notions about what she offers.
“I won’t leave Winchester even if I have to set a tent out on the sidewalk and sell my crystals and all the things that are within my shop,” said The Crystal Coven owner, Shannon Tipton.
The Crystal Coven has operated in Winchester for nearly a year without incident. But recently, the Winchester-Clark Tourism Commission promoted her business, along with others, as a place for tourists to visit. That stirred up controversy, upsetting many residents who contend her shop promotes witchcraft because of the name of a business and what it sells.
“They included us at an event that we had called aura photos, and that promotion of the event that we had on April 5 was one of the major reasons why all this has started because it was said that I’m a religion and not a metaphysical shop,” said Tipton.
When the Tourism Commission met earlier this week, some people spoke up, saying they didn’t like tax dollars being spent to advertise The Crystal Coven.
“I’m a metaphysics shop, if the word coven bothers you, the word coven was selected based upon its true definition of a group of individuals of like-minded interest in activities and nothing more,” said Tipton.
Many people at the meeting spoke in support of Tipton’s shop, saying the protest was a misguided witch hunt.
“I worked yesterday during the meeting to educate a lot of folks on the things that I have here in the shop, what I do here at the shop, but it’s falling on deaf ears. So, I’m encouraging folks to not listen to me, not listen to the opposing parties; come in and make your choice and your decision yourself,” said Tipton.
“There was a lot of support in the meeting. Inside there were three individuals who were very opposing of me and my shop, and even though the education was provided, it still wasn’t accepted,” she said.
Tipton said after the meeting was held Tuesday, she walked out to see the sidewalks filled with people holding posters of support for her and her business.
“My client has endured a campaign of intimidation and hate orchestrated by a misguided local politician. This literal modern-day witch hunt has caused Ms. Tipton to lose profits as customers are now concerned for their safety while at her shop. This has obviously caused Ms. Tipton to suffer severe emotional distress and has threatened both her physical safety and financial security. We understand the gravity of this situation and the impact it may have on Ms. Tipton, the Crystal Coven Mystic Cottage, and the Winchester community,” Julianne Tackett, of Tackett Law Office, said. “We are currently investigating all potential legal avenues in hopes that her rights are not further violated. We would like to thank those who have bravely spoken up in support of Ms. Tipton and the Winchester Police Department for their increased patrolling of the Crystal Coven.”
Photos: Fox56 and The Crystal Coven
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