Things are currently getting heated in “The Divine City” between the police and the populace. Just one month after a police officer in uniform was allegedly denied service at an Arby’s, a Dunkin’ Donuts employee serving an officer last Friday wrote “#blacklivesmatter” on his coffee cup.
https://twitter.com/terrirobin/status/650454408904507392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Politics aside, denying a cop a roast beef sandwich is one thing—but messing with a police man’s coffee and donuts? That is some incendiary shit. And the union wasted no time in addressing it, calling the gesture “unacceptable and discouraging.”
https://twitter.com/michaelarria/status/650817044322091008
Now, we should point out that the common perception of Providence is that it’s a pretty white place, and for good reason:
But whites make up just a little less than 50% of the population, according to the 2010 Census, with African Americans comprising 16% and Hispanics 38%. And those African American and Hispanics in Providence are not always thrilled with how the police department treats them.
https://twitter.com/Gluonsrule/status/650824145282969600
https://twitter.com/AntDiPalma/status/650825979418513409
Whether or not the two officers in question did anything to perpetuate a racist attitude to the employee in question (whom they claim was “immediately rude” to the officer), the union probably did itself no favors by releasing a statement saying:
Providence Policeman William O’Donnell, who first posted the photo of the cup, had an even more drastic suggestion: to boycott Dunkin’ Donuts altogether. “Go to Starbucks,” he said. Maybe he can help reboot that “Race Together” initiative that went so incredibly well.
[via Eater]