Diners at several popular restaurants in New York City and Oakland got a surprise serving of social justice with their eggs and toast on Sunday morning.
Protesters filed into the eateries during busy brunch hours to recite the names of black people killed by police. About three dozen people participated in the peaceful so-called “#BlackBrunch” protests in New York, according to Yahoo News. Another three dozen demonstrated in Oakland, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Restaurant management and customers had mixed reactions to the breakfast interruptions in both cities.
Protesters were asked to leave at at least one New York restaurant, Resto, according to an Instagram video:
RIGHT NOW #NoBusinessAsUsual #blacklivesmatter #BlackBrunchnyc #blackbrunch VIDEO
Management at Oakland’s Bocanova and Lungamore were not pleased by the disruptions either, according to the Los Angeles Times. Yet the newspaper reported that more than a dozen customers at Bocanova stood up from their tables in solidarity with the protesters.
The Times reported that “#BlackBrunch,” which it described as “a tactic, not an organization,” began back in early December after a grand jury decided not to indict a white New York City Police officer in the chokehold death of Eric Garner, who was black. Wazi Maret Davis told the newspaper that he and a group of protesters were inspired to start “#BlackBrunch” by civil rights-era displays of civil disobedience, like lunch counter sit-ins.
Here is a sampling of images from Sunday’s demonstrations:
Hella folks stood up for black lives at Lungomare. #BlackBrunch #oakland pic.twitter.com/ZmmNa5Ja8P
— BGD (@BlackGirlDanger) January 4, 2015
#BlackBrunch protesters entering Oak restaurants 2 read names of dead. Manager of Forge: “I think it’s beautiful.” pic.twitter.com/1eOTlOcEEP
— Lee Romney (@leeromney) January 4, 2015
ATTN WHITE Man, I have no guilt disturbing your brunch. Its YOU that has no right to be here. #blackbrunchnyc pic.twitter.com/mFRq5Q9hbe
— Camila ibanez (@QuePasaApaza) January 4, 2015
Black women killed by police: Rekiya Boyd, Renisha McBride, Shaniqua Proctor. #blackbrunchnyc #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/6Zgj3VTCcb
— Sharmin Ultra (@sharminultraa) January 4, 2015
manager at @restonyc literally tried 2 silence black voices by music. #BlackBrunchNYC #whitesilenceIsViolence pic.twitter.com/fQzGLKaP62
— Camila ibanez (@QuePasaApaza) January 4, 2015
#blackbrunchnyc is demanding NYC support the #BlackLivesMatter movement. We outchea interrupting brunch this Sunday. pic.twitter.com/szG8iCet1Q
— Sharmin Ultra (@sharminultraa) January 4, 2015
The protests were also mocked and criticized by other social media users:
I’m really enjoying these Eggs Benedict so move along now. #BlackBrunchNYC pic.twitter.com/33lMgtJVAt
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) January 4, 2015
Eating While White – just the latest on our long list of crimes against humanity. #blackbrunchnyc
— MaydnUSA (@MaydnUSA) January 5, 2015
Goodness this isn’t what Montgomery Bus Boycott or Woolworth sit-ins were about -this is ignorance #blackbrunchnyc pic.twitter.com/ewRbXOi1Sx
— Charles V Payne (@cvpayne) January 4, 2015
Update: Fox Business News host Charles Payne has acknowledged that he shared an incorrect photo of the “#blackbrunch” protests and is expected to address the tweet Monday on his show “Making Money.”
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There must be a more imaginative way to get the message across. The comparison with the lunch counter sit-ins makes me think of the old Marx quote to the effect that history repeats, the first time as tragedy, the second as farce.
The John Cardillo tweet – a photo of himself pointing a gun over a peaceful event – confirms the need for continuing protests.
I’ll give you my eggs benedict when you pry them from my cold, dead hands!
This reminds me of a nicer version of Act Up actions in the early 80s and properly so as social media eventually ensures the wider audience old media once and still censors…But, as the gun image sadly illustrates, even peaceful assemblies in this digital age of unregulated commercially amped polarization could turn deadly. And, with another early, endless, pointless political season dawning and the political crows cawing the same old saw from the town dumps (cable) God only knows where people’s frustrations and commercially amped media will take us…
I’d probably express solidarity and all, but this “tactic” doesn’t strike me as all that effective. This isn’t a lunch counter sit-in, this is just acting like an ass to make sure your words get attention. I’m pretty sure the difference isn’t a subtle one.
I also take umbrage with the implication that “brunch” or going out to eat for a nice breakfast is an elitist white privilege. It’s silly enough that it somewhat undermines the message.
Seriously…what a disturbed and insecure fuck (as evidenced by the NRA regalia in the background). I love eggs benedict (particularly with crab cakes!)…and NOBODY better touch mine…but a 9mm over some poached eggs and hollandaise? Two words: mental illness.