Protesters Question Mayor On ICE Warning

OAKLAND, CA — A small group of people questioned Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf about her immigration policies after a protest in front of a coffee shop Sunday afternoon.

The protesters were wearing "Make America Great Again" T-shirts and carrying posters, among them one that said, "Lock Libby Up."

Mayoral spokesman Justin Berton said about 12 people arrived at a farmers market to speak with Schaaf.

Right before they arrived, the group was staging a noon protest in front of Hasta Muerte Coffee at 2701 Fruitvale Ave.

The coffee shop has a policy of denying service to police officers to protect the physical and emotional safety of customers and employees, according to a Feb. 22 post on its Instagram page.

Videos on social media Sunday afternoon showed protesters chanting and saying the shop's decision was "un-American."

Schaaf was at the farmers market for her "Mobile Mayor" series that invites residents to ask questions, Berton said.

Many of the protesters were not from Oakland, but the individuals signed up and waited their turn to speak with the mayor, according to Berton.

The protesters took issue with Schaaf's decision to notify Oakland residents of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid last month, Berton said.

He said Schaaf's supporters shouted words of encouragement while she answered the protesters' questions.

"The mayor is proud to live in a country where everyone has the right to speak their truth and residents have the right to question their elected officials," Berton said in a statement.

"(Sunday's) interactions were respectful and she appreciated everyone who took the time to engage in thoughtful discussion," he said.

— Bay City News; Image via City of Oakland