U.S. restaurants support race protests as violence adds to pandemic woes

Restaurants from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. are taking a stand with crowds protesting racial injustice in the U.S. despite violence bruising their pandemic-battered businesses.

Fast-food chains, coffee shops, bakeries, and breweries have weighed in on the police killing of George Floyd and are responding to rallies taking over the streets with messages of support, fundraising initiatives and free meals to protesters.

The death of Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, in the custody of Minneapolis police last Monday was ruled a homicide. Footage of police officer Dereck Chauvin digging his knee into the neck of the handcuffed and unarmed man triggered nationwide outrage over police brutality and racial bias.

Calls for justice to be served and chants of "I can't breathe" – Floyd's repeated plea to Chauvin – have been echoing across U.S. cities for over a week, growing louder as police and protesters come face to face.

Foodservice establishments have not turned a deaf ear, showing they're attuned to the pulse of the street by speaking out against racism and disproportionate police violence against people of color. By breaking their silence, they also broke a long-held tradition of businesses in the hospitality sector keeping mum on political matters and affiliations in an attempt not to lose customers.

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