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progree

(10,864 posts)
Sun Jan 4, 2015, 10:21 PM Jan 2015

‘Black brunch’ protesters interrupt diners in NYC, Oakland (#BlackBrunch #BlackLivesMatter)

Source: Yahoo News

In a twist on sit-in-style protests, civil rights activists entered several restaurants in New York City and Oakland, Calif., on Sunday in what organizers billed as “Black Brunch.”

About three dozen people participated in demonstrations in New York, where they momentarily “disrupted” meals at popular midtown eateries, including Lallisse, Maialino and Pershing Square — places protesters identified as predominantly “white spaces.”

At each stop, demonstrators read the names of African-Americans killed by police.

“Every 28 hours, a black person in America is killed by the police,” the protesters said. “These are our brothers and sisters. Today and every day, we honor their lives.”

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/black-brunch-protests-nyc-berkeley-oakland-190212742.html



Lots of tweets and pictures in the article -- definitely worth the click and scroll through. Here's one:

81 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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‘Black brunch’ protesters interrupt diners in NYC, Oakland (#BlackBrunch #BlackLivesMatter) (Original Post) progree Jan 2015 OP
Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2015 #1
Nothing else was working. bravenak Jan 2015 #2
Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2015 #5
They do that. bravenak Jan 2015 #8
Post removed Post removed Jan 2015 #9
Us guys? bravenak Jan 2015 #10
^^^^ +1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 progree Jan 2015 #11
. Nye Bevan Jan 2015 #16
Great Jury!nt bravenak Jan 2015 #17
+1 Mugu Jan 2015 #54
This message was self-deleted by its author progree Jan 2015 #18
Post removed Post removed Jan 2016 #74
well considering that cops turning their backs are PatrynXX Jan 2015 #7
What an idiotic idea! What do the patrons or owners of those restaurants have to do with.... George II Jan 2015 #3
Duh! Pastiche423 Jan 2015 #6
"What they originally had to say" DonCoquixote Jan 2015 #14
You hit the nail on the head. Unfortunately a lot wont get it. 7962 Jan 2015 #15
... 840high Jan 2015 #47
The ones that say "the heck with them" were never with them in the first place. Others may have . . brush Jan 2016 #79
More like "People are being murdered by those Live and Learn Jan 2015 #56
That's one way of looking at it. Another way is if it takes making people uncomfortable . . . brush Jan 2016 #78
K&R SamKnause Jan 2015 #4
Not a good idea imo. hrmjustin Jan 2015 #12
no0t a good idea DonCoquixote Jan 2015 #13
i am not against protesting. hrmjustin Jan 2015 #21
no DonCoquixote Jan 2015 #22
I am more of a rally type of protestor. hrmjustin Jan 2015 #23
The Civil Rights Movement protests did not "disrupt comfort". They challenged evil. Bucky Jan 2015 #65
The lunch counter sit ins were appropriate NuclearDem Jan 2015 #32
Those protests against discrimination were done in restaurants that were..... George II Jan 2015 #59
I think I would've answered with names of a few whites the cops have killed 7962 Jan 2015 #19
White cops who were killed? bravenak Jan 2015 #20
to be fair DonCoquixote Jan 2015 #24
Uh oh. bravenak Jan 2015 #25
I said "whites the cops have killed". I never mentioned a white cop being killed 7962 Jan 2015 #38
Yeah. I saw it a little while ago. bravenak Jan 2015 #39
Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2016 #75
blacks are about 3X more likely than whites to die in a confrontation with police progree Jan 2015 #27
Propublica: black males age 15-19 shot by police: 31.17 per million, whites: 1.47 per million progree Jan 2015 #36
It's going to take a lot more of this for the 1% to even NOTICE (not that they'll actually care, tho blkmusclmachine Jan 2015 #26
Of course...because all 1%ers are racists...just like all working class people are progressives. brooklynite Jan 2015 #41
I know I keep thinking fight club Joe Shlabotnik Jan 2015 #50
Not a great idea Duckhunter935 Jan 2015 #28
Dunno myself. Its a lot tamer than shutting down freeways. To me it seems kind of mild progree Jan 2015 #29
Sometimes, raising awareness requires getting "in your face" with the general public alp227 Jan 2015 #53
well I disagree Duckhunter935 Jan 2015 #57
Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2015 #30
What's an asb baton? I googled and it showed me results for Asp batons progree Jan 2015 #31
Here ismnotwasm Jan 2015 #35
Are you promoting violence sir? ismnotwasm Jan 2015 #33
Back so soon? oh mirt! hrmjustin Jan 2015 #34
Changes in police policy are carried out by the Mayor, Governor or County Executive... brooklynite Jan 2015 #37
Dunno. The same question could be asked about just about any form of protest progree Jan 2015 #43
The Protestors are Sending a Message: Remember us and Join Us! McKim Jan 2015 #40
+1000 Joe Shlabotnik Jan 2015 #51
And sometimes the phrase TexasMommaWithAHat Jan 2015 #64
Woohoo! Bravo! Someone who gets it. brush Jan 2016 #80
Odds are, these people are provocateurs. DinahMoeHum Jan 2015 #42
I doubt it very much. progree Jan 2015 #44
+1 Joe Shlabotnik Jan 2015 #52
Had I been in one of those "white" dining places during one of these, I would have stood with thm tavalon Jan 2015 #45
Several diners stood with them progree Jan 2015 #48
Me, too.nt stage left Jan 2015 #49
I'd have stood right beside you. Live and Learn Jan 2015 #55
I don't feel segregated Skittles Jan 2015 #66
Had I been in one of those "white" dining places during one of these, I would have stood with thm tavalon Jan 2015 #46
I'd have been interested if I was eating there. Inkfreak Jan 2015 #58
The sniffiness of some folks about this tells me it is EXACTLY the right tactic alcibiades_mystery Jan 2015 #60
Yup, I think some feathers have been ruffled, oh well, such a pity progree Jan 2015 #61
Well, I think this is great. Starry Messenger Jan 2015 #62
I figured that if the protesting moved away from the easy-to-pretend-to-criticize traffic blockings LanternWaste Jan 2015 #63
good. Ramses Jan 2015 #67
Get in their face. K&R Jefferson23 Jan 2015 #68
"Their" face? Whose face? Joe Magarac Jan 2015 #69
Play your nonsense on someone else..I'm not interested in what you believe makes an impact for good Jefferson23 Jan 2015 #70
Post removed Post removed Jan 2015 #72
right on! hopefully it wil encourage more civil protest, eom whereisjustice Jan 2015 #71
Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2015 #73
As long as police are gunning down unarmed people in the streets, mountain grammy Jan 2016 #76
Oh ppl brunches were disrupted - oh well Truprogressive85 Jan 2016 #77
This isn't about a handful of diners being momentarily inconvenienced! johnp3907 Jan 2016 #81

Response to progree (Original post)

 

bravenak

(34,648 posts)
2. Nothing else was working.
Sun Jan 4, 2015, 10:35 PM
Jan 2015

You know like remaining silent and sitting down.

What is your solution to end police violence?

Response to bravenak (Reply #2)

Response to bravenak (Reply #8)

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)
16. .
Sun Jan 4, 2015, 11:12 PM
Jan 2015

On Sun Jan 4, 2015, 07:00 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

Sure. Scare and anger people against you who were previously for you.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=980516

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

"You guys sure are stupid."

Never acceptable. Particularly to a black person


JURY RESULTS

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Sun Jan 4, 2015, 07:07 PM, and the Jury voted 7-0 to HIDE IT.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Personal attack.
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Tro lollo Lola
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: troll be gone
Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: 10 posts and making such nasty posts? Off to "message auto removed" with you!
Juror #7 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

Response to bravenak (Reply #10)

Response to bravenak (Reply #2)

PatrynXX

(5,668 posts)
7. well considering that cops turning their backs are
Sun Jan 4, 2015, 10:48 PM
Jan 2015

probably doing more for the protesters than anything else... it's not like these are violent protests. face palm is on anyone who thought this was a bad idea.

George II

(67,782 posts)
3. What an idiotic idea! What do the patrons or owners of those restaurants have to do with....
Sun Jan 4, 2015, 10:36 PM
Jan 2015

....what they're presumably protesting? "Predominantly white spaces"?

What they originally had to say weeks or months ago was valid, now they're just being disruptive and hurting their cause.

DonCoquixote

(13,615 posts)
14. "What they originally had to say"
Sun Jan 4, 2015, 11:09 PM
Jan 2015

You said it was valid, as in, is on loner valid. Question, are the people killed by cops still dead? Are people still being made to be dead? the answer to both is yes, therefore, none of the validity was been lost.

 

7962

(11,841 posts)
15. You hit the nail on the head. Unfortunately a lot wont get it.
Sun Jan 4, 2015, 11:10 PM
Jan 2015

Most of those patrons would likely support them, but may now say "the heck with 'em"
This movement is going to degenerate quickly if crap like this continues and thats a shame

brush

(53,331 posts)
79. The ones that say "the heck with them" were never with them in the first place. Others may have . .
Sat Jan 2, 2016, 12:58 PM
Jan 2016

their consciousness raised by the protest and respond in ways that they can.

Perhaps by financial means, by political pressure, by legal assistance, maybe by even getting in the streets and protesting themselves.

The struggle is sometimes about making the comfortable uncomfortable — sorta like what the media used to be about, "comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable" — but in this day and age of corporate media that duty seems to have been taken up people of color protesting against injustice.

The movement can us people of non-color too.



Live and Learn

(12,769 posts)
56. More like "People are being murdered by those
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 05:40 AM
Jan 2015

protecting you so you can eat like nothing is happening."

brush

(53,331 posts)
78. That's one way of looking at it. Another way is if it takes making people uncomfortable . . .
Sat Jan 2, 2016, 12:35 PM
Jan 2016

in making them aware of the innocent people who were actually murdered by brutal cops, I say go for it.

Just think of the courage it takes to do this. You have to know, going in, that there's a good chance of being arrested and roughed up or even worse by the very people you are protesting against.

Being part of the movement/struggle against police killings takes a serious commitment (much more than objecting on a liberal site).

Idiotic to you maybe because peoples "comfort zone" is temporarily disrupted, but to some it's courageous.

DonCoquixote

(13,615 posts)
13. no0t a good idea
Sun Jan 4, 2015, 11:08 PM
Jan 2015

I suppose the lunch strike MLK did were not a good idea either.

The fact is, the only way presuure will be felt on city hall is if this happens where people with money eat. I might have not have used the term 'white spaces" especially as there are many non whites who eat there, and who sadly, may be as clueless as the rest. Grenn is the color that matters, and non violent types have to hit at the places where people spend.

Bucky

(53,755 posts)
65. The Civil Rights Movement protests did not "disrupt comfort". They challenged evil.
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 03:47 PM
Jan 2015

They broke unjust laws in order to draw attention to an inherently evil system of "justice" that was backed up by violence and racial oppression. They won over allies and drew whites out of complascency by drawing out the contrast between assumptions of law and order and the realities of Jim Crow segregation.

These "protesters" have every right to be where they are--they're breaking no laws. But then again, they're not confronting any evil, either. They're just pestering people in hopes that they'll wake up to a greater wrong--the systemic abuse of black civilians by police forces. Their cause is just, but their tactics are woefully misdirected--and geared toward turning off potential allies. In essense, they're trying to win over these allies (I would hope), not by moral persuasion but by extortion of their time. This approach is little more than annoying.

 

NuclearDem

(16,184 posts)
32. The lunch counter sit ins were appropriate
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 12:02 AM
Jan 2015

because diners in the South were segregated and therefore part of the problem.

These diners in NYC didn't shoot unarmed black men.

George II

(67,782 posts)
59. Those protests against discrimination were done in restaurants that were.....
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 12:38 PM
Jan 2015

....doing the discriminating. The owner of these restaurants didn't kill anyone. And don't give us the crap that they're "part of the system" that is doing the killing. That's a lame-ass rationalization for misguided protests.

 

7962

(11,841 posts)
19. I think I would've answered with names of a few whites the cops have killed
Sun Jan 4, 2015, 11:14 PM
Jan 2015

And there have been a LOT of them too. Never makes national news though. No race has a monopoly on being abused by power hungry renegade cops. The stories are easy to find and a few have been posted here by others in other threads.

 

bravenak

(34,648 posts)
20. White cops who were killed?
Sun Jan 4, 2015, 11:17 PM
Jan 2015

That's how you would respond to people protesting police violence in the wake of the death of an unarmed man at the hands of police? Those people were non violent. Why stain them with the death of white cops? They are protesting an institution that disproportionately targets them. Not protesting white people being cops.

DonCoquixote

(13,615 posts)
24. to be fair
Sun Jan 4, 2015, 11:36 PM
Jan 2015

I think he meant white people who have also BEEN KILLED BY COPS, which, there have been more than a few. It would remind them "ask not for whom the bell tolls" becauzse sooner or later, they will come for them too.

 

7962

(11,841 posts)
38. I said "whites the cops have killed". I never mentioned a white cop being killed
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 12:29 AM
Jan 2015

Please re-read my post.
Edit: nevermind; just noticed someone else pointed it out!

Response to bravenak (Reply #20)

progree

(10,864 posts)
36. Propublica: black males age 15-19 shot by police: 31.17 per million, whites: 1.47 per million
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 12:23 AM
Jan 2015

I recall this being a "Pic of the Moment" a couple(?) months ago

Factcheck: Grim statistics on race and police killings, 12/2/14, cnn.com
http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/02/politics/kristoff-oreilly-police-shooting-numbers-fact-check/

(Selected excerpts)

Kristof was citing an analysis by ProPublica ( http://www.propublica.org/article/deadly-force-in-black-and-white?utm_source=et&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailynewsletter ), which combed through the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Supplementary Homicide Report.

The site reported: "The 1,217 deadly police shootings from 2010 to 2012 captured in the federal data show that blacks, age 15 to 19, were killed at a rate of 31.17 per million, while just 1.47 per million white males in that age range died at the hands of police."

The Fox News host's numbers, meanwhile, came from a fatal injury database maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A search in 2012 for deaths caused by "legal intervention" as a result of the use of a firearm -- that is, a police shooting -- yields just the numbers O'Reilly cited Monday night. In the 15-19 age range, the database shows 20 white people killed in 2012 and 14 blacks. (but then there are 5X as many non-Hispanic whites as blacks -Progree)


(the article goes on to say the data sucks, for example: "The numbers are self-reported by individual law enforcement agencies and not all local and state agencies participate. Most shootings are marked as justified homicides, with little follow-up." )

Joe Shlabotnik

(5,604 posts)
50. I know I keep thinking fight club
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 01:17 AM
Jan 2015
Tyler Durden: [to the police chief] Hi. You're going to call off your rigorous investigation. You're going to publicly state that there is no underground group. Or... these guys are going to take your balls. They're going to send one to the New York Times, one to the LA Times press-release style. Look, the people you are after are the people you depend on. We cook your meals, we haul your trash, we connect your calls, we drive your ambulances. We guard you while you sleep. Do not... fuck with us.
 

Duckhunter935

(16,974 posts)
28. Not a great idea
Sun Jan 4, 2015, 11:47 PM
Jan 2015

those people might be supporters even though they are "predominantly white" They would be better off protesting around police stations that are the problem not some "predominantly white" restaurant.

I understand and support the protest but not the right way to do it.

progree

(10,864 posts)
29. Dunno myself. Its a lot tamer than shutting down freeways. To me it seems kind of mild
Sun Jan 4, 2015, 11:55 PM
Jan 2015

and harmless, assuming they go in, make their statement, and are out in 5 minutes or so.

Tamer than being killed at 3X the rate of white people, I'd say. [font color =red](on edit: or 21 X the rate in case of males, age 15-19)[/font]

Tamer than say even a typical union strike that shuts down the business, hurting not only the business owners, but customers who did no wrong-doing. But then some people are against unions, so...

(I am not for shutting down freeways)

alp227

(31,942 posts)
53. Sometimes, raising awareness requires getting "in your face" with the general public
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 03:22 AM
Jan 2015

and making them use their brain every once in a while instead of living in their own comfortable bubble.

Response to progree (Original post)

brooklynite

(93,626 posts)
37. Changes in police policy are carried out by the Mayor, Governor or County Executive...
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 12:24 AM
Jan 2015

Please explain how this sort of tactic has encouraged Mayor De Blasio or Governor Cuomo to change any policies currently in force.

progree

(10,864 posts)
43. Dunno. The same question could be asked about just about any form of protest
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 12:41 AM
Jan 2015

Even the most peaceful ones, if they involve more than 50 people, tend to disrupt traffic as they cross streets, even though disrupting traffic is not the intent. I've been in a few of those (monitors and police help direct the traffic as the march goes through).

Lots of people think civil disobedience is a tactic that moved a lot of policies to change. This restaurant thing seems to be as mild as I can think of.

McKim

(2,412 posts)
40. The Protestors are Sending a Message: Remember us and Join Us!
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 12:33 AM
Jan 2015

I have a different take on the interrupted brunches. If I were having brunch and they came in to protest. I would think: "Yes, they are reminding me of my civic duty to create a better world. Yes, this is my job. I will do something to support their efforts. I will be a part of this." These protestors are sending an invitation and we need to listen and act.

For example, at our household my husband came home yesterday from a senator's town hall saying that the meeting had to be shut down because young blacks and whites were yelling "I can't breathe!". I thought, yeah, that's right, they are shutting it down because nothing else matters more after slavery, and now poverty and mass jailing and killings in the streets by police. Something must be done.

So I decided today to join a class at church on how to be a white ally to this movement and I am sending our local Black leaders a check to support their work and I will show up at the demonstrations.

So this is how these activists are communicating with us whites. Do you want to continue to eat eggs in peace or do you want to join a movement that has the potential to do great things in this country? I know where I stand! Be a part of history on the right side!

Joe Shlabotnik

(5,604 posts)
51. +1000
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 01:22 AM
Jan 2015

Sometimes it takes something uncomfortable to trigger the necessary soul searching.

And welcome to DU.

brush

(53,331 posts)
80. Woohoo! Bravo! Someone who gets it.
Sat Jan 2, 2016, 01:06 PM
Jan 2016

Welcome to DU, McKim.

It posted this earlier:

Folks in the restaurant who had their consciousness raised can contribute "perhaps by financial means, by political pressure, by legal assistance, maybe by even getting in the streets and protesting themselves".

Joe Shlabotnik

(5,604 posts)
52. +1
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 01:25 AM
Jan 2015

The dead give away was that it was peaceful. No windows smashed, no conveniently placed (yet stripped) cruisers to burn, by a supposed 'black block' (all wearing the same police issue boots).

tavalon

(27,985 posts)
45. Had I been in one of those "white" dining places during one of these, I would have stood with thm
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 12:48 AM
Jan 2015

And I wouldn't have considered it an interruption. It's a needed reminder.

I wish we weren't still so damn segregated. When I lived near military bases in the eighties and nineties, our neighborhoods were mixed with all colors and races and people got along just fine.

It makes me sad that this is necessary but it is, so therefore, it is no interruption.

progree

(10,864 posts)
48. Several diners stood with them
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 12:51 AM
Jan 2015

Last edited Mon Jan 5, 2015, 01:22 AM - Edit history (1)

We're asking brunchgoers to STAND for black life. A good number in the last spot stood or raised their fists.

...

#Blackbunch protesters entering Oak restaurants 2 read names of dead. Manager of Forge: "I think it's beautiful."
http://news.yahoo.com/black-brunch-protests-nyc-berkeley-oakland-190212742.html


Although in fairness I have to mention that there were also confrontations.

Live and Learn

(12,769 posts)
55. I'd have stood right beside you.
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 05:38 AM
Jan 2015

To heck with those that don't get it. Wrong side of history and morality.

Skittles

(152,918 posts)
66. I don't feel segregated
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 09:05 PM
Jan 2015

I live in a very diverse apartment complex, work with a variety of folk including virtual offshore people - I grew up as a military brat; have never really known segregation

tavalon

(27,985 posts)
46. Had I been in one of those "white" dining places during one of these, I would have stood with thm
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 12:48 AM
Jan 2015

And I wouldn't have considered it an interruption. It's a needed reminder.

I wish we weren't still so damn segregated. When I lived near military bases in the eighties and nineties, our neighborhoods were mixed with all colors and races and people got along just fine.

It makes me sad that this is necessary but it is, so therefore, it is no interruption.

Inkfreak

(1,695 posts)
58. I'd have been interested if I was eating there.
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 10:37 AM
Jan 2015

No harm, no foul. Maybe someone will learn something or listen a little closer. As long as no ones standing on my table. Or taking my food!!

But seriously, no problems. You're not gauranteed never to be bothered when out in public.

Starry Messenger

(32,342 posts)
62. Well, I think this is great.
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 02:31 PM
Jan 2015

It takes a lot of guts to put yourself in a place of discomfort, even in a group.

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
63. I figured that if the protesting moved away from the easy-to-pretend-to-criticize traffic blockings
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 03:00 PM
Jan 2015

I figured that if the protesting moved away from the easy-to-pretend-to-criticize traffic blockings to something more benign and even less inconvenient, idiots and half-wits would still find something to complain about. The reactions of idiots are almost as simple as the idiots themselves.

 

Ramses

(721 posts)
67. good.
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 09:13 PM
Jan 2015

Racism needs to be confronted every time in this country. Blacks are treated as second class citizens in America in many ways.

Jefferson23

(30,099 posts)
70. Play your nonsense on someone else..I'm not interested in what you believe makes an impact for good
Mon Jan 5, 2015, 10:39 PM
Jan 2015

or not.

Response to Jefferson23 (Reply #70)

Response to progree (Original post)

mountain grammy

(26,552 posts)
76. As long as police are gunning down unarmed people in the streets,
Sat Jan 2, 2016, 12:29 PM
Jan 2016

this is completely appropriate. If it happens where I'm dining, I will join them. This is a just cause. Innocents are dying, no time for niceties. Nobody got hurt, this is a peaceful protest.
Lynchings of citizens went on unnoticed and unpunished for almost 100 years, only to be replaced by mass incarceration, capital punishment and police brutality. Damn right these protests are appropriate!

Truprogressive85

(900 posts)
77. Oh ppl brunches were disrupted - oh well
Sat Jan 2, 2016, 12:35 PM
Jan 2016

Untill cops are held accountable

Making those im the majority uncomfortable will continue until they join the call for change

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