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They were loitering and asked to leave. When they refused, the cops were called. Why is the perp’s color a factor here? The media is breathlessly reporting this as if they expect (re: hope for) Black Lives Matter to riot. Who is wagging the dog here?

They are on private property. If they aren't going to order, they are taking up valuable space other people could use. In the case of a restaurant,you are keeping tips from the waiters and taking space others could use. Let's just say the owner or manager asks you to leave for whatever reason. Maybe your loud, maybe you are vulgar, maybe you aren't dressed properly, they can ask you to leave and you MUST leave. It's private property. A store is NOT a public meeting place like a park bench or some other public place.

I have been in a restaurant and met an old friend I hadn't see for 20 years. He sat down and we talked of old times. I finished my meal and we continued to talk. The bus boys came and cleaned the table. After about 10 more minutes, the waitress asked us if we wanted something else. I got the message, said I was sorry and we left to go somewhere else. They only had 3-4 more tables which could have been filled in minutes.

I hope the owner/manager was courteous when he/she spoke to them, but either way, they have the right for the table to produce income for their store. If they had ordered 1 cup of coffee, the owner has to let them stay. As it looks, they are just freeloaders that want to bit$h about something. A million dollar place of business was not built to have squatters take up usable space with no income.