Ernie (Hugo diner)

Ernie operated the Hugo diner in Hugo, Alabama. During the U.S. occupation after the Second Great War, Ernie participated in a boycott. He refused to sell Armstrong Grimes a sandwich stating that Grimes had headed up a firing squad the previous day that had shot his brother-in-law. The next day, he was arrested by Grimes and a squad of soldiers for again refusing to do business with the U.S. troops. Grimes horrified onlookers by telling them he was taking old Ernie to a camp. This strong action caused the boycott to collapse.