#BlackLivesMatter and So Do Pigs

The owners of Imagine Vegan Cafe received a phone call and several negative comments/reviews on social media because they have signs on their wall supporting the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Below is their response.

Today, we received a phone call and several negative comments/reviews on social media concerning the signs on our wall that support the ‪ #‎BlackLivesMatter‬ movement.

Here is our official reply:

First, we support this movement because Black Lives do, in fact, matter. This is not a racist statement, nor does it mean that all other lives do not matter. If that were the case, the signs would say "ONLY Black Lives Matter". They do not, however, say "ONLY Black Lives Matter". This is actually simple common sense and basic knowledge of the English language. As an example: if I were to say "my kids lives matter" that would be true. It would not be true, however, to assume that this means that the lives of other children do not matter to me. It simply means that in the present moment, I am emphasizing the importance of the lives of my children.

Unfortunately, we live in a society that is built on systemic and institutional racism. Thus, it is important to emphasize that Black Lives matter in solidarity with the Oppressed within our society. Standing in solidarity with the Oppressed is, after all, the very reason that Imagine Vegan Cafe exists in the first place. Furthermore, unless you are vegan, it is hypocritical to say "ALL Lives Matter". What you are actually saying with your life is "ONLY HUMAN Lives Matter." Even then, consumption of factory farmed animal products is a leading cause of starvation in countries where starvation and malnutrition are prevalent, because rich countries (such as the United States) use grains that could nourish starving humans in poor countries to fatten animals for slaughter (while these animals should be eating their natural diet of grass) to meet consumer demands. So, what you are ACTUALLY saying is: "ONLY HUMAN Lives IN RICH COUNTRIES Matter". 

Second, the pigs on the bulletin board are not intended to symbolize police officers at all. This thought never occurred to us until we received the phone call and negative comments earlier today. In humility, we offer a sincere apology for this particular misunderstanding. We have many close friends, regular customers, and family (Adam's grandfather) who are police officers. The pigs are there for the same reason that we have pigs in our profile picture... The pigs are there for the same reason that we have a rescue pig living in our backyard... The pigs are there for the same reason that we do not eat pigs... The reason: we love pigs!!! Pigs are our friends, not food.

Third, if you have read this statement and are still offended by where we stand on this issue, please feel free to spend your money somewhere else. We are not the slightest bit concerned with your money or your bad reviews. We do, however, care about you. If you would like to talk about it, please feel free to call and ask for us (Kristie or Adam, not our 13 year old daughter who typically answers the phone for "to go" orders and general informational purposes because we are a family owned and operated business.) Or, you can take the less mature path and continue to rally friends to leave negative comments on social media sites. In either case, we love you, because your life matters!

Peace and Love,
Kristie and Adam Jeffrey

A guide to debunking the need for “All Lives Matter” and its rhetorical cousins

It’s summer, you’re at a barbecue feeling really right with your Kool-aid, potato salad and hot dog. You strike up a conversation with a guy about black lives mattering. It’s not an unusual conversation, lots of people are having it. But suddenly, you’re mid-chew and this guy says “Right, but, don’t all lives matter? I’m more of an ‘all lives matter’ kind of guy.”

Last week, close to 200 Philadelphians showed up to protest for white lives. According to Philadelphia’s ABC affiliate, the event was held in response to an alleged “rash” of beatings in a white South Philadelphia neighborhood by four black women. And so the white residents of this Philadelphia neighborhood rallied for white lives.

In December, right when the black lives matter movement was picking up momentum, Kathleen McCartey, president of Smith College, wrote in an e-mail to the college in support of student protest efforts around the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. In it she said: “We are united in our insistence that all lives matter.” After students voiced their disappointment with McCartney’s use of the term, the president apologized.

Fox news panelist Lars Larson was outraged by McCartney’s apology. “In fact. I think the crowds, the mobs, who’ve been making these protests for the last couple of weeks all over America, they owe society an apology,” he said about using the phrase. “Because by exclusion it suggests that others matter less,” he continued. “It’s a bigoted thing to say.”

So, what do you say when confronted with an “all lives matter” enthusiast? And, really, Why is it so bad? Below is a guide to help you through those tricky times.

Read the rest here