Business booms after Portland restaurant kicks cop out
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The co-owner of a Portland vegan restaurant who asked a police officer to leave says the move has been good for business.
John Langley told The Oregonian business nearly doubled over the weekend after the story made national news.
He also says his restaurant received five threats of arson or other violence and some outrage over his treatment of the officer. Langley says he doesn't expect any vandalism from the police supporters.
Officer James Crooker had stopped to buy a quick coffee on May 18 and was talking with a customer when Langley asked him to leave because of his uniform. Langley told a news conference Monday it was not personal. Officers are welcome in street clothes.
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Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
Watch the KATU.com video below to hear Langley's entire explanation. A representative from Portland CopWatch and a woman who talks about why the Red and Black Cafe is important to abuse survivors spoke at the news conference as well.
From KATU.com
A southeast Portland coffee shop owner held a brief news conference on Monday to explain his decision to ask a Portland police officer to leave his place of business.
The incident happened last month at the Red and Black Cafe at 400 S.E. 12th Avenue and even made national news.
Officer James Crooker had stopped at the Red and Black Cafe to buy a cup of coffee and was asked to leave by co-owner John Langley.
Langley said he did so because his clientele is comprised of people who are fearful of police. He said he didn't intend to slight the officer but was just looking out for the concerns of his customers.
"I feel my role as a proprietor is to make people feel safe," Langley said. "To make it comfortable for people who feel police make them unsafe. To protect it for people who use the space."
Langley said he encourages a dialogue with police officers about their role in the community and the perceptions that there is entrenched racism in the Portland Police Bureau. But he said that dialogue needs to happen somewhere other than his cafe.
