WILLCOX — A Willcox businessman went to work Monday morning to find someone had covered the walls of his restaurant with racial slurs and swastikas.

Michael Terrell, owner of Michael’s Restaurant  on Haskell Avenue, said that  he  has received death threats ever since he showed the presidential candidate debates at his lounge.

Terrell and employee Marty Huaraque, a Republican, got into their own debate, which was heard by customers there at the time. Terrell is for Obama and Huaraque was a McCain supporter, who has since changed his mind.

“It’s been a couple of weeks that we’ve had the threats,” Huaraque told Wick News Service. “It started after the debate. We got a few calls that were not good — threatening.”

Michael Terrell and his mother Eileen Terrell stand in front of their Willcox restaurant, which was painted with racial slurs sometime Monday morning. (Dave Brown-Arizona Range News)

Huaraque, who moved to Willcox from Glendale about five weeks ago, said, “Michael gave me a job and a home — free room and board.”

“We didn’t clean up here until 1 a.m., and then we wake up to this mess,” Huaraque said.

“That is disgusting,” said Al Rodriguez, a regular customer at Michael’s who happened on the scene this morning. “I feel like throwing up.”

“Whoever did this is full of hate,” said Michael’s mother, Eileen Terrell. “Being Christians, all we can do is pray for them. They need our prayers.”

For his part, Terrell is simply bewildered by what has happened.

“If it’s about the election, they can vote,” he said. “Everybody has a right to their opinion.”

“When Mom and I closed the nursing home (The Hacienda), we talked about what we should do and where we wanted to spend the rest of our lives. We truly felt Willcox was the place to be — that it’s the kind of place this would not happen.”

“All I wanted to do is open a restaurant with good food and good service, where people can be comfortable and relaxed. We accepted everybody. Everybody who needed a second chance was welcome here. I don’t ever turn anybody away.”

“This just really, really hurts me,” Terrell said.

Mayor Sam Lindsey said he is angry about what he saw at Michael’s Restaurant this morning.

“It’s unimaginable for something like this to happen in Willcox,” said Lindsey, adding that he has offered to organize a citizens work party to help Terrell re-paint the building if  needs be.

“Michael told me he wanted to think about it a little bit,” he said.

This turn of events has hurt Terrell’s new business, which was already struggling.

“I’m not a quitter,” Terrell said. “I have given this business my money, my blood and my sweat every single day. Not once did I pull out the race card. I find it hard to believe in 2008 that would be it.”

“The Christian in me won’t give in. I’m not going to go out easily. My mom said I should bury my head in the sand. I can’t,” Terrell said, shaking  his head. “I just can’t do that. That’s why I put the ‘Vote Obama’ sign up this morning.”

The Terrells wanted their story publicized, so that people would believe this still happens today. Already, Willcox residents are stepping forward not only to express their outrage but to offer their support.

Earlier today, someone gave Terrell $200 to buy paint for his restaurant, and he has received numerous offers to help paint over the graffiti.

“I believe if the good people are aware of it, we can stop it,” Terrell said.

Officials with the Willcox Police Department could not be reached at press time due to the Columbus Day holiday.

Carol Broeder writes for the Arizona Range News in Willcox. Contact her at reporter@willcoxrangenews.com.