Photo by Robin Krantz of protesters at Fairway.
A group of people chanted statements about police brutality near the checkout area at Fairway on 74th Street and Broadway on Monday night around 8:20 p.m. Signs held by group members said they were affiliated with the Black Lives Matter and Native Lives Matter movements, wrote Robin Krantz, who witnessed the protest.
“A large group walked into fairway chanting (couldn’t exactly make out what it was),” wrote Melissa, another witness, who sent the video below. “They started listing instances of police brutality. They were there for about 5 minutes until the police came in and they all left.”
Shoppers were generally unaffected, though they may have been slightly delayed in checking out. No one was arrested, Krantz wrote.
Click the image below to enlarge.
A note for the comments: We have gotten all sorts of vile racist comments when we post stories about Black Lives Matter. Please refrain, or we’ll simply delete it.
It’s like no other market. Anyone here remember that women that used to scream “Sign the petition!” while holding up an animal rights sign outside Faiway. Whatever happened to her?
She used to also scream “Women fight back!” so I thought her petition was against physical and sexual abuse of women. She would also protest outside of Zabar’s as well.
I remember that she had short
hair and smoked.
Oh my gosh. I do remember her! She must have moved on to another location.
How strange. What’s the rationale for holding a protest against police brutality in a supermarket? Wouldn’t they be seen by more people at the nearby 72nd St express subway station?
Seriously? Fairway would call police and insist on arrest of 70 year old woman caught with a can of tuna in her coat. But apparently will tolerate racist radical socialist flash mob and not insist on pressing charges for trespassing and disruption. If they were not total phonies and out of state BLM paid operatives they wld have been at city hall, or 1 police plz or Staten Island Grand Jury hall petitioning release of Eric Garner’s negligent homicide deliberations. Instead they get to abuse and prey upon sanitized minds of armchair liberals who abide 7 yrs Washington’s false narratives and racist politics. Unacceptable.
Customers at the checkout lines are more of a captive audience than passersby at the subway station and, depending on how big the crowd is, have a longer wait.
I don’t understand – why Fairway? Did something happen there?
Thank God it wasn’t Zabar’s.
Thank you for your active Moderation.
Remember most of these protesters are simply virtue signalling to make themsleves feel good rather than actually figuring out ways to make things better by doing the hard work when no one is looking (Big Brother/Big Sister, food kitchens, tutoring low income kids). They must also know every UWSer is already on the right side of BLM so its a waste of time….. Or maybe they are linking BLM to the shameful treatment UWSers are showing to Amsterdam Houses residents in the school rezoning debate? Hmmmm.
If you mean the right side being the opposinging side, than you”re right. They have no problem killing each other, so until they drop the double standard this “new” UWSer doesn’t care.
Acting like you can’t think of any other reason people would try to engage politically than to impress other people says more about you than about them, I think.
the last thing
Millenial children brainwashed by their Communist “professors”.
Good grief. I totally understand the Black Lives Matter movement but what a stupid idea for a protest.
Hey – let’s protest a checkout line in one of the most liberal neighborhoods in NYC. You know, where people already get our point and where there is zero connection to any problem.
I cry for my liberal brothers and sisters when they react in nonsensical, pathetic ways.
Hey everyone – I’m going to organize a protest against antisemitism and we’re going to chant at people going to synagogues.
Then I’m going to stage a sit-in against hunger and we’re going to chant at soup kitchen workers.
And please don’t miss my huge rally against obesity. We’re going to really create a scene at Equinox.
Oh please, this is so 6 months ago. Don’t these silly protesters know that pissing off residents on West 86th Street is all the rage now?
I didn’t realize there was so much police brutality happening near the checkout area at Fairaway!
Most of these protesters look white.
I challenge any of them to walk through Brownsville on a Saturday night.
It must be great to be a guilt ridden UWS liberal.
Wow. Who knew that the Fairway on the UWS was a stronghold of racial oppression. Classist for sure, but I didn’t really detect the more sinister undertones. All this time, I just assumed they were just selling groceries.
Take a look at their signs.
They should probably consider editing them down.
A protest sign should be low on words and high on graphics.
Seriously, these geniuses have no idea on how or where to protest.
I did notice they sell white chocolate.
How insensitive!!
They want publicity and they got it. And based on responses, I’d suggest that the NEW Upper West Siders may not be as liberal as we wish. You now really have to be wealthy to move into our formerly reasonable neighborhood, so we shouldn’t assume we are all liberals any more. Those days appear to be over. The nasty sniping in all these Comments is just depressing.
Laurie,
I find it interesting you equate wealth with conservative opinions. In fact the data shows wealthy people with college degrees are strongly more liberal than conservative especially on the coasts. So your premise is not supported. I agree the increasing unaffordability of the UWS over my 20+ years here is an issue which needs to be addressed with innovative programs.
Check out the comments under the story with the picture of the Trump Sandwich board from a few days ago.
I don’t think that Democrats have to worry too much about the UWS becoming a swing state, but I sense the liberal bias is eroding a bit. Not all of the hedge funders buying up new condos are limousine liberals. David Koch named a theater after himself in Lincoln Center, for goodness sake.
No need to go all the way over to “the story with the picture of the Trump Sandwich board from a few days ago.”
It’s apparent in the comments on just about every story, including this one.
“They have no problem killing each other, so until they drop the double standard this ‘new’ UWSer doesn’t care”
Truth hurts…glad you highlighted the comment.
recommended reading: Germany: Berlin’s war on gentrification. As demand booms, officials want to prevent the city turning into another London
https://www.ft.com/content/7f3dcfea-8a1b-11e6-8cb7-e7ada1d123b1
“We” who?
There were more police at the demonstration than participants.
I’m generally sympathetic to BLM and related movements, and I’ve actively participated in a couple of protests including after the death of Eric Garner. But I happened upon this group last night on their way down Broadway to Fairway, and I have to say I was shocked how rude and vulgar they were being to the police who were accompanying the march. Really vile stuff–I practically expected to hear a call for cop killings, although to be clear I didn’t hear an actual call for violence in the short while I was near the group. Still, I was really taken aback, it was the kind of stuff I’ve only seen in short Fox News clips, never in the rallies I’ve taken part in.
And on the flip side the police were exceedingly polite and patient despite the extremely aggressive behavior I saw from at least two protesters (screaming right in the faces of the officers, etc.); kudos to them.
I say this without sarcasm or judgment-/ not my thing–but if any of the demonstrators are reading this, please explain why Fairway was your protest site, and what the signs said.
This was actually a dyslexic SJW protest at Fairway…
Signs should have read:
black olives matter
I find it deplorable that people post racist comments about Black Lives Matter. Go find an uninhabited island,take your white friends and stay there. It’s really sad to know there are people like you. I think Donald Trump’s sick rhetoric has made it more acceptable to express these views.
WSR should delete those comments. Don’t cry censorship, you can express your vile views elsewhere. WSR doesn’t owe you a platform to spew your sick insults. By the way,I am white.
@Elizabeth – where are you seeing racist comments?
Some here (including myself) have expressed an understanding of the movement but are critical of the method used at Fairway.
Oh, and yes, there have been some jokes – but they aren’t racist.
You sound like one of those incredibly thin-skinned liberals who can’t take a joke. Oh, and I’m a liberal!
Outside the store fine. Inside the store no.
Black and White Cookies Matter #BWCM
As passionate as most folks are, I have to agree with comments NOT critical of the petition, protesters, Fairway, location, BLM,
Millenials, timing, location IN the store,
86th Street, Brownsville, synagogues, liberals, or UWS. I’m just relieved they didn’t choose… Levain
What a bunch of morons……………..
Quality of life keeps on improving with Deblasio.
Definition of liberal–a person who has not be mugged yet……………….
Was there a specific incident or series of incidents that prompted this demonstration? Something about Fairways?
That’s a nice safe space to protest in.
Seriously? Fairway would call police and insist on arrest of 70 year old woman caught with a can of tuna in her coat. But apparently will tolerate racist radical socialist flash mob and not insist on pressing charges for trespassing and disruption. If they were not total phonies and out of state BLM paid operatives they wld have been at city hall, or 1 police plz or Staten Island Grand Jury hall petitioning release of Eric Garner’s negligent homicide deliberations. Instead they get to abuse and prey upon sanitized minds of armchair liberals who abide 7 yrs Washington’s false narratives and racist politics. Unacceptable.
Perhaps the message was that white liberals need to lose their complacency and become active, visible supporters of racial equality.