COLONIE – Coccadotts Cake Shop employees could be seen working inside the Central Avenue store as supporters of its baking a cake in the shape of a red Make American Great Again hat in late July and Black Lives Matter protesters faced each other outside.
A Coccadotts supporter blocked the front door at 1179 Central Ave. to keep the press away from asking questions of store owner Rachel Dott who other supporters said was inside. Dott had posted images of the cake on social media that led to the two sides lined up outside the store and to the west of it along Central Avenue.
WARNING: Video contains strong language
The Black Lives Matter protesters were equipped with bullhorns but they were greatly outnumbered by anti-protesters who waved American flags and encouraged passing vehicles to beep their horns in support. There were more than 125 people outside the bakery.
Colonie police officers stood between the two groups keeping them separated as much as possible. State Police troopers and Albany County Sheriff's deputies also were on the scene.
Members of both sides did get face-to-face speaking to each. They also were yelling at each other.
Protesters amass in front of Coccadott’s on Central Avenue in Albany on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Lori Van Buren / Times Union"Hey, hey, ho, ho, racism has got to go," came from the Black Lives Matter ranks.
"They're able to feel what they feel about their politics. We have issues when it comes to social injustice as in firing someone because they're gay, wearing all lives matter masks," said Legacy Casanova of Schenectady, who had been speaking to the crowd.
Casanova said they wanted to hold a civil conversation but hadn't been able to do so.
Dennis O'Kane of Delmar was waving a flag and encouraging people to honk their horns in support of Coccadotts and free speech. Saying he was on the street to support America, O'Kane equated Black Lives Matter to the Black Panthers and the Black Liberation Army.
"I've known these people for 30 years. These people are really nice," O'Kane said about the Dott family.
During the 2016 presidential race, President Donald Trump coined the Make America Great Again slogan and had it stitched onto red baseball caps as a campaign promotion.
Times Union Tablehopping blogger Steve Barnes wrote about the fury that arose over the posts back in July, which led the business to take down or privatize its accounts, including one for its South Carolina store.
"cake" - Google News
August 14, 2020 at 08:06AM
https://ift.tt/30WG73M
Coccadott's MAGA hat cake leads to protest/counter demonstration at bakery - Times Union
"cake" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2o81WMZ
No comments:
Post a Comment