Taking their lead from socialist presidential candidate Gloria La Riva’s strong endorsement of the Movement for Black Lives policy platform, the Party for Socialism and Liberation as well as local Black activist organizations picketed Paisano’s, an Italian restaurant in Albuquerque, for its unabashed racism.
Why picket this restaurant? Recently, the restaurant received a backlash of outrage on social media after putting up a billboard that read “Black Olives Matter: Try our Tapenade.”
Rick Camuglia, the restaurant’s owner, took down the slogan so as “not to offend people.” However, he soon realized that he could make money off of the racist mockery of a civil rights movement, and decided to slap the phrase on every bit of merchandise possible, mainly T-shirts.
As a result, Camuglia’s business received more outrage via social media, and he tried to justify his usage of the phrase, claiming that the restaurant has a tendency to use “cute” catchphrases and slogans with subtle cultural references, and that business has been booming ever since the restaurant began selling the shirts.
Nikki Archuleta, a Black activist who was present at the picket, gave her opinion on the matter: “I don’t find it funny whatsoever. It’s disappointing that it’s 2016 and a community business is making what they call a ‘light-hearted joke’ out of men, women and babies losing their lives.”
When the picketers arrived at the scene, Camuglia was already outside of the business, waiting to taunt and insult the picketers. He approached them in a very arrogant manner, mocking their decision to express their First Amendment rights and telling them that they were simply over-sensitive and needed to learn how to laugh. He also tried to control the picketers’ movements by telling them where to park and where to stand.
Archuleta remarked on her interaction with Camuglia: “His kind of demeanor exists in a lot of racist people, with this idea that it’s not that big of a deal. What I find super offensive is the fact that he goes on saying he took the sign down to not offend people, but then went on to profit from it.”
Jennifer Marley, vice-president of Indigenous rights group Red Nation, offered her input: “At Paisano’s, the attempt to profit off of the Black struggle is just disgusting. It intends to package, objectify and sell one of the most influential slogans of the current Black movement, thus undermine the severity of the call to mobilize. It is also very apparent that this is meant to appeal to a non-Black consumer or one who would rather joke about the Black Lives Matter movement than regard it as one of the most significant struggles for Black liberation happening right now.”
Archuleta added: “I think we need to have more brothers and sisters out here. People have become scared and fearful. The Black community has lived in terror for hundreds of years.”
However, despite all of the unapologetic racism coming from Camuglia and his sympathizers, there is hope for change. Along with the cars circling around and honking in support of the picketers, several drivers pulled over and greeted the demonstrators, wanting to learn more and get involved in the struggle. This outcome in the presence of a modest picket line shows that many people are hungry for change, but are either fearful or do not know where to go to begin fighting.
