Two black guys got arrested at Starbucks. Racism, right? Well, no not really.
How to avoid getting arrested at Starbucks: buy the cheapest thing on the menu before you ask to use the bathroom. I, a white dude, have had to do this before."What did they get called for, because there were two black guys sitting here, meeting me?" Yaffe asks in the video. "What did they do?"
Commissioner Ross said in a video posted to Facebook on Saturday afternoon that police responded around 4:40 p.m. Thursday to a 911 call reporting a disturbance. The men had refused to leave the cafe after asking to use the restroom without placing an order, which violated Starbucks policy, staff members told police.
The men were detained after they refused officers' requests to leave as well, Ross said.
"The police did not just happen upon this event — they did not just walk into Starbucks to get a coffee," he said. "They were called there, for a service, and that service had to do with quelling a disturbance, a disturbance that had to do with trespassing. These officers did absolutely nothing wrong."
I've always been puzzled by people who think its their God Given Right to use a Restroom in a private business.
ReplyDeleteWhy even ask to use the bathroom in a high volume place like that? I just walk in casual and use it, using a side door if possible to be less noticeable.
ReplyDeleteI often do it at Wendy's or McDonald's; since I'm always hungry I usually buy a small sandwich or fries - I've already made the detour, so why not do 2 things at once?
I don't do it at really congested restaurants or anywhere that has a sign 'restrooms for customer use only'.
Greetings, gents,
ReplyDeleteThis is the thing that continues to concern me about this #BLM thing. Starbucks is PRIVATE PROPERTY. That means if they tell you to leave, for any reason or no reason, you have to leave. Its the fucking basis of our civilization. Private property is private. The owner chooses who gets to be there and who doesn't.
The bathroom is for CUSTOMERS. If the schmuck behind the counter is being a little bitch and telling you no, you BUY A COFFEE.
I have been told no before. Me, Mr. White Privilege guy. Usually happens in Toronto, I used to see it a lot in NY. They have no fricking manners there.
Happened at a diner in Westchester one time. So I bought the cheapest goddamn thing on the menu, and said "okay, NOW where's the bathroom?" Then I tipped the bitch a nickel. So I spent a dollar, got to use the bathroom, got to see the look on her bitchy face (which was awesome, and worth more than a dollar let me tell you) and I have a fun story to tell at parties instead of a police arrest record.
The purpose of doing what these guys did is to create a political incident. I have no sympathy for them at all. They are idiots.
Generally the enforced "restrooms are for clients only" come about because of illegal activity or straight-up trashing of the restroom.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pain to require keys for the restroom-- it's an even bigger pain to clean up heavy drug use or the guy who decided to paint the bathroom with his own fecal matter, and don't get me started on the group activity issues.
I've frequently gotten folks to give me the keys to the bathroom-- or even help me to the employee's only one-- by coming in either hugely pregnant, or with an obviously distressed toddler. Then again, I was also taught that you never even use the gas station restroom without at least buying gum, as a matter of pulling your own weight.
Hi Foxy! ~:D
ReplyDeleteIt's been my experience that you only get asked "Are you going to order anything?" if you're showing up as a problem. It isn't like the busy wait staff have nothing better to do than hassle customers.
Demanding the keys to the bathroom and refusing to order anything is two major red flags. Refusing to leave is three. No wonder they called the cops.
*waves*
ReplyDeleteYep.
And it turns out they were-- setting up a shakedown.