On Sunday mid-morning, while white people in New York City and Oakland were enjoying their second brunch-time Bloody Mary, a group of protestors entered several popular restaurants and began reading the names of African Americans who had been killed by police officers.
About three dozen people participated in demonstrations in New York, where they momentarily “disrupted” meals at popular midtown eateries, including Lallisse, Maialino and Pershing Square — places protesters identified as predominantly “white spaces.”
“Every 28 hours, a black person in America is killed by the police,” the protesters said. “These are our brothers and sisters. Today and every day, we honor their lives.” (Via)
Much of the #BlackBrunchNYC protest was documented through photos on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/georgeLmachado/status/551774694194810884
RT @Zxmurray last time black folks was this black n proud on Park Ave= when the Jeffersons moved in #blackbrunch #NYC pic.twitter.com/5ho0pYHySs
— BlackBrunchNYC (@BlackBrunchNYC) January 4, 2015
We're approaching our last brunch spot! #blackbrunchnyc interrupting white supremacy one brunch at a time. pic.twitter.com/IJndvWHb1W
— Sharmin Hossain (@sharminultra) January 4, 2015
#blackbrunchnyc is the opposite of breakfast at tiffanys. #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/Rd2zxLqrNJ
— Naima Pepper (@hafrocentric) January 4, 2015
Black women killed by police: Rekiya Boyd, Renisha McBride, Shaniqua Proctor. #blackbrunchnyc #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/6Zgj3VTCcb
— Sharmin Hossain (@sharminultra) January 4, 2015
ATTN WHITE Man, I have no guilt disturbing your brunch. Its YOU that has no right to be here. #blackbrunchnyc pic.twitter.com/mFRq5Q9hbe
— aru (@QuePasaApaza) January 4, 2015
According to Yahoo, “the protests were said to be largely peaceful — though there were reports of verbal clashes with brunchgoers and waitstaff,” as well as hostility online.
https://twitter.com/DefendWallSt/status/551827890548273152
So 16 have been shot, killed in Chicago in 2015 but God forbid New Yorkers eat brunch because #WhiteSupremacy! #blackbrunchnyc you're fired.
— It’s Just Jenn (@JennJacques) January 4, 2015
I'm really enjoying these Eggs Benedict so move along now. #BlackBrunchNYC pic.twitter.com/33lMgtJVAt
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) January 4, 2015