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October 13, 2015

Rhode Island: Protesters Defend Dunkin' Donuts Worker Who Wrote #BlackLivesMatter on Cop's Cup 
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In Providence, Rhode Island, Black Lives Matter protesters gathered
outside a Dunkin' Donuts shop Monday to show support for a Dunkin'
Donuts worker who wrote the hashtag "#Black Lives Matter" on the coffee
cup of a police officer. The Providence Fraternal Order of Police union
accused the Black Lives Matter movement of "creating a hostile
environment," and Dunkin' Donuts said the franchise owner had apologized
to the police officer for the employee's act of protest. Former police
officer Tony Lepore—known as the "dancing cop" in Providence for
directing traffic while performing his signature dance moves—has led
calls for Dunkin' Donuts to fire the worker. Sam Muskelly was among
those who gathered outside the Dunkin' Donuts to show support for the
worker.

Sam Muskelly: "We can knock down every wall that's in front of us. Black
lives do matter every day. All of our lives matter here today, because
we are fighting for what's going on in the streets, and trying to help
our young people find a way to get through. So us standing here today is
big. It shows a diversity of everyone. It shows everyone here holding up
their signs and screaming out loud that black lives do matter, and we
want people to know that every day, all day, and every time they wake up
and they walk outside."

 

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