(Corine Gatti, Headline USA) A San Francisco bakery refused service to a uniformed police officer last week, with the company claiming there was a “strict policy” of not serving anyone who is carrying a firearm, the Gateway Pundit reported.
The San Francisco Police Officers Association criticized the Arabian-food bakery Reem’s for bigotry on Twitter over the weekend, posting: “NO COPS ALLOWED. That’s the confirmed policy of the bakery chain Reem’s. One of our officers was denied service last weekend because he was in uniform.”
NO COPS ALLOWED. That’s the confirmed policy of the bakery chain Reem’s. One of our officers was denied service last weekend because he was in uniform. Reem’s confirms that they will not serve anyone armed and in uniform. Presumably, this includes members of the US Military. pic.twitter.com/0cDzEV0D68
— San Francisco POA (@SanFranciscoPOA) August 24, 2023
The post from the SFPOA included a screenshot of an email from Reem’s explaining the company’s policy “to not serve anyone that is armed in a uniform.”
Likely, this included members of the U.S. military, as well as law enforcement. It is unclear whether it extended to other first responders, including firemen.
“We are not asking Reem’s or any business with a bigoted policy to serve our officers,” the SFPOA wrote.
“We’re asking them to own their discriminatory policy & and put up a sign so we know not to spend money in your establishment—on or off duty,” it continued. “We took the liberty of designing one for them.”
However, a representative from Reem’s told Mission Local it would still welcome officers when they are not on duty.
“This policy is for armed officers, and we let police officers know that we welcome them back to our establishment when they’re off-duty and unarmed,” said the representative.
The bakery went on to issue its own statement via Instagram, pointing to the issue of gun violence in marginalized communities and claiming its strict policy of prohibiting guns in the establishment was to ensure the safety of their customers.
View this post on Instagram
“In a time of increased gun violence — particularly impacting people of color, youth, and queer people — we believe that a strict policy of prohibiting guns in our restaurant keeps us safer,” the said.
It added: “Many members of our community have been impacted by gun violence, whether that be an experience on the streets of San Francisco or Oakland, having come from war or occupation, or having increased fear due to a growing climate of political extremism.”
In a caption beneath the statement, the restaurant suggested that it had temporarily closed its doors. It thanked the community for their support and said it was taking a scheduled break until Sept. 5, but “can’t wait to reopen our doors very soon and provide the sanctuary space you all deserve.”
San Francisco restaurants have denied service to police officers in the past, with Reem’s being the latest to do so.
Restaurants Hilda and Jesse faced backlash for asking three uniformed officers to leave in 2021, and Pizza Squared fired a cashier who told police officers they were not welcome earlier this year, the New York Post noted.
