Oakland coffee shop refuses to serve uniformed cops

Back in the day before the Civil Rights movement, some restaurants refused service to people of color. In modern America, there’s a coffee house in Oakland that is refusing service to police officers. According to CNN, the Hasta Muerte Coffee House, which is owned by the people that work inside, and also sells books, refused service last month to uniformed cop. It’s defending its action by saying on social media that “police presence compromises our feeling of physical and emotional safety. Ironically, the sergeant that was turned away is president of the Latino Police Officers Association of Alameda County. The officer told KCRA TV that he was surprised when it happened but walked out without causing a scene. The Oakland Police Dept. posted a response on Twitter, saying, “The Oakland Police Department respects business owners’ right to serve anyone they choose. OPD along with other community members are reaching out to the business to have constructive dialogue in our efforts to unite our community.” Hasta replied with a lengthy Instagram post, saying among other things that it had “a policy of asking police to leave for the physical and emotional safety of our customers and ourselves,” adding that that police department has a “history of corruption, mismanagement and scandal,” as well as “a legacy of blatant repression.” On its website, Hasta calls itself a “cooperative coffee shop” and lists its address as 2701 Fruitvale Ave. and E 27th Street.