Vegan cafe asks officer to leave

Sat., June 5, 2010

Associated Press

PORTLAND – A Portland police officer says he doesn’t take it personally that he was kicked out of a cafe where he had stopped to get a coffee.

Officer James Crooker said he was surprised he was asked to leave the Red and Black cafe but understands it was hostility directed at his uniform.

Co-owner John Langley says he asked the officer to leave May 18 because he felt uncomfortable having a uniformed officer in the vegan cafe, which is frequented by the homeless, environmental and animal rights activists.

Customer Cornelia Seigneur said there were only about three other people in the cafe at the time and no one seemed to notice the officer.

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