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Church members protest gas station they say hiked prices during giveaway

A pastor says they want the station owner to "feel the consequences" of allegedly trying to take advantage of the charity event.

DISTRICT HEIGHTS, Md. — The last time they were here at this Sunoco gas station on Marlboro Pike these church members were trying to bring in business. Friday, the same group was trying to drive it away. 

"Black and brown money matters," one of the protesters chanted to drivers passing by.

Last week these protesters were part of a group of churches paying for a total of nearly $25,000 in free gas for drivers at about a dozen different gas stations.

But at one station, the church members say the owner hiked the price during their giveaway and then lowered it again once they left.

RELATED: 11 Prince George's Co. churches spend nearly $25K in gas giveaway

"I'm certain that wasn't an accident," said Pastor Bobby Manning with First Baptist Church of District Heights. "That's why we're here."

With no resolution from the station owner, these churchgoers spent about two hours Friday suggesting customers go elsewhere for gas.

"We're just trying to raise awareness," said Steven Lee as he was standing on the sidewalk telling drivers the reason for the protest. "We want to be good neighbors and we want businesses to be good neighbors as well."

Pastor Manning said they want the person responsible for the temporary price hike to feel the consequences of their actions.

"If you look around...you see this community that cares about the community, that cares about each other, that cares about our economic well-being, and we'll show up to show that," Manning said.

As for the gas station, WUSA9 reached out to the owner Friday but did not hear back. However, Pastor Manning says he has heard from the Sunoco corporation and those conversations, he says, are ongoing - although he hasn't ruled out the possibility of more protests in the future.

RELATED: Virginia Governor's 3-month gas tax holiday proposal fails in Senate

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