Bread, Roses And The First Amendment - Editorial
Last week, a Cape Cod business became the latest victim of targeted harassment on social media because of its political views.
Bread + Roses is a Hyannis bookstore/café owned by Cape Codder Nathan Herschler. Though it has been open for less than a year, the shop has already made good on the promises in its motto of “Good Reads. Good Eats. Good Folks. Good Trouble.”
The plant-based café, in its owner’s own words, is intended to be a community hub that mixes books and coffee with social and economic justice. In other words: it is a pretty obviously left-leaning place that prides itself on inclusivity and education, among other things. While it is not unusual to see a business voicing its political stances and views today, it certainly can have consequences.
A protest was organized last Wednesday by pro-law enforcement organization America Backs The Blue, in response to a piece of paper that someone hung in the café that summarily reads “police are just the largest criminal gang, they can’t be reformed.” The sign and others around it included statistics on police brutality and misconduct, but a Google review left by one customer said that the signs left her “profoundly bothered” and that it took “everything not to cry in the restaurant,” because she knows many good police officers who impacted her in a positive way.
Now, it is important to state what feels like the obvious but seems to have been overlooked: it is doubtful that the sign hanger’s intentions were to make patrons uncomfortable or drive them to the verge of tears. Taking into consideration the purpose and stance of the bookstore—which is to be a place where education and social justice go hand in hand—it is not hard to conclude that this sign was probably put up in an effort to inform customers about this pertinent societal issue that has been in the news cycle for more than two years, and perhaps start a conversation or two. While hanging a poster calling police “the largest criminal gang” isn’t an advisable way to get the message across or foster a conversation, it is not entirely condemnable either if one considers the context of making such a statement in a place that prioritizes activism—it was maybe intended to spark curiosity or a conversation that would lead to further dialogue.
Case in point: Mr. Herschler replied to the reviewer, apologizing for the signs having triggered such a negative reaction in her while also doubling down on the stance. He then invited the reviewer to come back to the store, offering to share literature on the impacts of overpolicing of Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) communities.
“We hope to see you again soon!” he wrote.
To give the reviewer the benefit of the doubt, it is difficult to pick up on things like tone and nuance over social media. Perhaps the reviewer interpreted this response as sarcastic or condescending rather than a genuine offer to come and discuss. Maybe she just did not want to return, which is well within her right. But this is where things went off the rails.
Shortly thereafter, Bread + Roses was inundated with negative, hateful, and offensive comments and reviews. The café was called everything, from “scum of the earth” to Satanists, Communists, and most concerning, groomers, a reference to the store’s pro-LGBTQ+ stance and the fact that it sells books that appeal to or are focused on that community.
In response, Mr. Herschler organized a counter-protest, putting out a call on social media for people who support progress and inclusivity to come out and support. Protesters from both sides lined the sidewalks of Hyannis’s Main Street holding signs and waving flags. This could have very easily gotten violent but thankfully, it did not.
Before the world of Google reviews and Instagram comments, the course of action for a disagreement like this would be simple: if someone does not like an establishment, they should not go there. They can even protest if they want; it is a First Amendment right. But today, drowning someone you disagree with in a flood of hate and negativity appears to be the method of choice, and it is not condonable from any angle.
Social media attacks will get society nowhere. People are justified in disagreeing with the political stances of Bread + Roses, but what cannot be justified are baseless attacks on the internet because, in 2022, it is far too easy for online violence to spread to the real world. Luckily, no vandalism or physical threats to the business or its employees have been reported.
The First Amendment right to free speech is the bedrock of democracy, and it comes into play on both sides of this issue. And that is what this is really about: free speech. Bread + Roses, under the First Amendment, has the constitutional right to hang that sign, just as much as the cafe’s opposition has the right to peacefully protest, disagree, or leave a review. But hate speech, outlandish accusations, and verbal attacks are not the kinds of speech that will progress American society. It is absolutely crucial for people of all types—especially those across political divides—to make an attempt to find common ground with one another, have productive conversations and hear each other out. Think about it: without the democratic exchange of ideas, what would American society be left with?