A Seattle-area city has cancelled its “coffee with police” event after left-wing activists complained about the Christian views of coffee shop owners who offered to host it.
As they did RegularlyPolice in Shoreline, Washington, had planned a “Cops Coffee” event on the morning of March 26th. The event aims to promote close relationships between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.
However, when some radical activists learned that the event would be held at Pilgrim Coffee, owned by Epic Church pastor Keith Carpenter, they decided to arrange a protest instead.
“Dear Coastline, Pro LGBTQIA2S+ Protests will be scheduled in front of Pilgrim Coffeehouse on Wednesday, March 26th from 10am to 11-40am! We are loud and proud!” User Sounder Sam commented in a Facebook post promoting the event, according to the conservative radio host. Jason Lantz ktth 770.
“We believe that many of you don't believe, a complete stop. But there are probably many things you and I actually agree.”
Rather than continuing the secular event in a secular coffee shop that happens to have owners with Christian beliefs, the city caves and cancels the event.
“It wasn't intended to make community members feel unwelcome based on the choice of event venues and values the venue may not hold. When planning future events, we are more intentional with venue selection.” Facebook.
Again, we reaffirm our commitment to creating a prosperous city that welcomes everyone. Part of the way we can do that is to listen to our community, give feedback, and come out stronger, whether negative or positive. Please listen.
Carpenter, who holds a biblical view on marriage, sought to sue his case in comments, noting the charity he and his church members had done in the area. He also claimed that his name was unfairly malicious as “hate, misogyny, racist and many other things.”
“The fact is that you don't know anything about me or our church community. It's very quick to throw under the bus. Yes, you're right, we believe that many of you don't believe, stop completely. But there are probably some things you and I actually agree.”
Carpenter attempted to build a bridge with those who opposed him by offering to chat about some of those differences in Joe's cup. “If you want to sit down and know me, let me know, coffee will be with me,” he said.
Despite Carpenter's measured response, the left wing cheered for cancelling the event.
- “I would like to participate in the event in a comprehensive venue in the future. Thank you for listening!” said one user.
- “Thank you for asking the public about this! Know that you want coffee with the police.“I added another one.
- “Thanks, Coastline City. It's great to have heard of it,” another insisted.
“As a city, we strive to be truly inclusive on the whole.”
Carpenter doesn't consider himself a victim, but admits to Landz that cancellation is a form of religious “discrimination.” He added that the city's message is “really confused” as leaders are openly involved in the “opposition” while focusing on “inclusiveness.”
He also finds himself frustrated by the “blatant lies” about his coffee shop, which serves everyone, regardless of their identity. “Anyone walking through that space will receive a totally beautiful, generous and generous kind treatment, and perhaps the best cup they have for a month or year,” he told Rantz.
When talking to Rantz about the reasons for the cancellation, the coastline representatives did not specifically refer to Carpenter's Christian beliefs and instead chose to dance around them using a vague language that had broken off into a ward salad.
“In this case, the goal was to provide a place to speak with police department members about law enforcement and public safety on the coastline.
“As a city, we strive to be truly inclusive on the whole.”
Going forward, Shoreline will be holding a future “Coffee with a Cop” event on the city's property, the spokesman said. “It allows the people we are there to raise concerns that there is some level of political overlay and not need to generate any concern,” the person revealed.
Carpenter told Lantz that the Coastline Police Department had apologized to him, but Chief Tomy Collins did not respond to Lantz's request for comment.
H/T: Jonathan Cho
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