WEBSTER, N.Y. -- Before the fireworks began, some Rochester residents spent their Fourth of July picketing outside of a new t-shirt store in the village of Webster.

“We’re having fun on the Fourth of July, and we’re exercising our American rights to peaceful protest,” said Steve Fornof.

The store is called Team Deplorable, and opened on East Main Street earlier this week.

Owner Bruce Ben-Dov says he named the store after a comment Hillary Clinton made during a fundraiser in 2016. That’s when she said you could put half of Trump’s supporters into a basket of deplorables.

“I kinda wear it as a badge of honor," Ben-Dov said. "I don’t think there’s any deplorable American who is a hard worker, and wants better for their family.”

But the protesters are unhappy with the name and what it stands for. Two we spoke to say they were protesting what they call hateful rhetoric from President Trump and some of his supporters.

“It’s almost as if they’re saying that they’re proud to be a deplorable, or proud to be expressing this, but it’s not okay," said protester Tessa Degrace. "It’s not a good word to be expressing yourself as.”

Ben-Dov says he opened the store to support President Trump’s policies, and to start a grassroots movement for the upcoming mid-term elections. But even though the protesters disagree with President Trump and his store, Ben-Dov doesn’t mind them.

“It’s important in America, and in American culture, to be able to express our opinions, both conservatives and liberals.” Ben-Dov said.

In fact, that’s exactly the Fourth of July spirit he wants his store to foster. Ultimately, he would like to transform his store into a coffee shop, where everyone on both sides of the isle can come and discuss their points of view.

“Hopefully we can bridge the gap and come together on some things and reach a middle ground," Ben-Dov said. "I mean, that’s the way America was founded, and that’s what our Founding Fathers had in mind when the inception of America came about.”

And while the protesters say they aren’t sure if that will ever happen, for now, they’re happy to show their patriotic spirit too.

“If we’re out here and showing what we believe in, that’s the best we can do, show our rights and what we can do also.” Degrace said.