A coffee shop in Oakland, California has refused service to police in uniform. Hasta Muerte Coffee, a "POC collectively run, worker-owned coffee shop," according to its website, cited the alleged Oakland Police Department’s "history of corruption, mismanagement, and scandal." After refusing service to a sergeant who came into the coffee shop, the business sent a letter to the local police union, announcing that the business "does not serve the police."
In a February 22 Instagram post, Hasta Muerte Coffee put up a photo with text in Spanish that translates to, "Talk to your neighbors, not the police." The post mentioned the exchange with Sgt. Robert Trevino from a week earlier and stated, "We have a policy of asking police to leave for the physical and emotional safety of our customers and ourselves."
The day he was refused service, Sgt. Trevino left the shop surprised, without coffee, and without incident. The police are calling this a "teachable moment," and the sergeant said he wants to develop a better relationship with the shop and the rest of the community. On Thursday, the Oakland Police Department tweeted, "OPD along with other community members are reaching out to the business to have constructive dialogue in our efforts to unite our community."
