An Arab bakery in San Francisco refuses to serve uniformed police officers or anyone with guns.
Reem’s California, a local bakery chain, was sued online by the San Francisco Police Officers’ Association Aug. 24 for failing to serve uniformed officers.
“NO COPS ALLOWED. “This is the confirmed policy of bakery chain Reem’s,” the association wrote on X with a screenshot of an email.
The bakery’s founder, Reem Assil, has criticized the policy, saying that no one is served in uniform. In a social media post, the restaurant said the move aims to create “a safe environment for our staff and customers.”
The decision drew outrage online, with a social media poster noting: “I’m an SF native, I’ll never go back here, this town sucks and there are things like this that keep it alive. I feel 10,000% safer when there’s no law enforcement.” The officer is nearby. There are many better bakeries in the area. I will tell friends and family not to come here.
Reem’s California, a local bakery chain, was sued online Aug. 24 by the San Francisco Police Officers’ Association for failing to serve an officer
“NO COPS ALLOWED. “This is the confirmed policy of bakery chain Reem’s,” the association wrote on X with a screenshot of an email.
In a post on Twitter, the union shared a photo of the grocery store’s signage with a screenshot of an email from a Reem’s California email address.
It said, “Hello, thank you for your email.” At Reem’s, it is our policy not to serve anyone who is wearing a uniform. “All officers are welcome at our facility when off duty and unarmed.”
They said one of their officers was refused duty after visiting in uniform.
“One of our officers was refused duty last weekend for wearing a uniform. Reem’s confirms that no one is armed and served in uniform. “This probably includes members of the US military.”
In a follow-up tweet, the association explained why it shared the email.
“We are not asking Reem’s or any other company with bigoted policies to serve our officials.”
“We are urging them to acknowledge their discriminatory policies and put up a sign so we know not to spend money at your facility – either on or off duty.”
The association’s objections come days after Reem posted on Instagram that the bakery has a “deep commitment to promoting social and racial justice in our communities.”
“This includes creating a safe environment for our employees and customers,” the restaurant wrote in the post. “At a time of increasing gun violence — particularly affecting people of color, youth and queer people — we believe maintaining a strict no-guns policy in our restaurant keeps us safer.”
The post added that many members of “our community” have been affected by gun violence — either in San Francisco, in the war zone, or out of fear of political extremism.
“All too often black and brown people and poor people are victims of this violence,” Reem explained.
The owner, Assil, tried to explain the policy further after backlash from the police association.
“All officers are welcome to come to our facility when they are off duty and not armed,” she said.
Reem posted on Instagram that the bakery has a “deep commitment to promoting social and racial justice in our communities.”
In a social media post, the restaurant explained that the move was to create “a safe environment for our staff and customers.”
Many social media users were outraged by the move and voiced their anger in posts.
“At no time is anyone afraid of an armed police officer in a bakery…unless it’s a criminal. Put into practice what you preach about inclusivity and safety. I would have cops in my store all day to make my customers feel safer,” wrote real estate agent Michel M. Francis on Instagram.
Another, Michael Rullan, remarked, “What a stupid post.” You create even more division and refuse to serve the officials protecting your company. Who will you call if a gunman walks into your bakery??? Guns in the hands of the right people make us a safer community… Because there will always be guns in the hands of the wrong people. Wake up!!’
While Jeremy Besse hoped Reem’s would soon go out of business.
“I hope to hear soon about a permanent closure of your business.” “Shameful ‘inclusive’ behavior,” he remarked.
However, not all commentators were against Reem’s policy. Some supported the bakery’s move to bar police officers.
“Bruhhh, all those random number generators are so loud.” These cops can literally get food from anywhere else. Kudos for putting your community first,” K Misech wrote on Instagram.
According to SFGate, Reem’s isn’t the first San Francisco facility to ban law enforcement officers out of hand.
In 2021, the owners of Hilda and Jesse, an all-day brunch restaurant, apologized after public backlash when three uniformed officers were ordered to leave the place.
Earlier this year, a worker at Pizza Squared was fired after telling police officers they were not welcome.
Police officers stand at the scene of a shooting on Haight Street in San Francisco in 2021, an area popular with young homeless people. San Francisco has seen a rise in crime, homelessness and drug use in recent years
The San Francisco Police Department has faced severe criticism and anger in recent years in the wake of liberal policies and calls to defund the police force. This has led to a rise in crime across the Bay Area since the end of the pandemic, coupled with a rise in drug use and homelessness.
In 2023, the number of homicides in San Francisco increased by almost 13 percent. The number of robberies rose by 14.5 percent from 1,450 to 1,660.
However, the total number of crimes in the year to date has fallen by about 4 percent.
The city also faces rampant drug use – many drug dealers openly ply their trade on the streets.
As a result, there were more than 268 drug overdose deaths in the first six months of 2023 alone, according to the city — a 41 percent increase from 2022.