JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Greg Perich owns the Bargain Channel, a radio station that offers discounted items to consumers. But for the past few days the station has been the epicenter of a protest by vendors.
"If somebody owes you money you can't go out and trash them to try to put them out of business," said Perich.
Perich faced off with one of his biggest critics, Vernon Williams. WIlliams is a former employee and vendor for the Bargain Channel.
"He owes me money and he owes a number of vendors thousands of dollars," said Williams.
So Williams has been spearheading a sidewalk protest of the business. He also took his fight to social media.
"I am exercising my First Amendment rights," he said.
Perich admits owing him the money, but disputes how much.
"He's owed $1,900 on the 30th of the month is when the payment will take place," he said.
Perich said paying the other vendors will be part of the normal cycle of payment.
Don Clark had joined the protest. He said Perich owes him $16,000. But now he's off the protest line.
"He drew up an agreement and he's paying me back the money," said Clark.
But Williams is not ready to give up. He said there have been too many complaints against Perich and his business in the past.
"I have a right to say what's going on," said Williams.
Court records show a number of complaints against Perich as an individual and against the Bargain Channel. Many, if not most, have been closed or resolved.
Perich said the protest has crossed the line.
"We're getting death threats," he said. "These people are calling us all sort of names."
Williams has a prior conviction and said his former employer is now using that to discredit him. He said one thing has nothing to do with the other.
"I have served my time," said Williams. "He owes me money and he's affecting my family."
Perich said he will pay Williams the $1,900 at the end of the month, but it may not be enough to resolve the issues between the two.
