EXCLUSIVE: Dunkin’ Donuts Worker Writes ‘#BlackLivesMatter’ on Police Officer’s Cup
Sunday, October 04, 2015
A Providence Police officer went to purchase a coffee on Friday night and his cup had a message from the Dunkin' Donuts employee writen on the cup, "#BlackLivesMattter."
The event happened at the Dunkin' Donuts located on Atwells Avenue at the corner of Bradford Street.
William "Billy" O'Donnell posted a picture of the cup and a description of the events.
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O'Donnell's Facebook post:
"So my coworker just went to get a coffee Dunkin Donuts on Atwells Ave in Providence. The worker was immediately rude, and didn't appear to want to serve him in uniform. Upon leaving he noticed what she wrote on his coffee cup...#blacklivesmatter. ? Would you drink it? My suggestion...absolutely not, go to Starbucks. When is this silliness going to end. But if the store gets robbed she'll be calling us immediately to help AND we will because that's what we do!!!!"
Police officers are concerned about the incident and if anything was put into the cup by the worker. Mike Iamondi, Providence Police Patrolman and Providence FOP Vice President told GoLocal in a phone interview:
"We have to look at the possibility if "Black Lives Matter" is on the cup, is there anything else going into the cup? That is a possibility, given what's going on around the country. If a guy goes in for a cup of coffee at a place we know, where we're patrons at, and they've always been great with us, do we have to worry?"
Iamondi said, "This is unacceptable -- all lives matter. We took great offense. Has it gotten to the point everywhere we go, do we have to wonder if someone is going to try and slip us something and without us knowing? Where does it end?"
"It was the Dunkin' Donuts at Atwells and Bradford. This is not a reflection on the owner, this is a single act by a single employee, and it's unacceptable. I don't know what Dunkin' Donuts is going to do, they're representing the company. I'll tell you right now, this is not a game, we're tired of being the whipping boys. The few random acts of police overstepping their bounds nationally, there are more incidents of police officers handling themselves in professional manner, every day."
"O'Donnell was the first guy to save someone with Narcan -- a life is a life," said Iamondi.
The Providence FOP are holding an emergency meeting today at 2 pm according to FOP President Taft Manzotti.
GoLocalProv has calls into Dunkin' Donuts communications representatives looking for response.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This was originally published at 1:29 PM on October 3, 2015
