Seattle chocolate store fires worker who refused to serve cop

An employee at a Seattle chocolate shop was fired for refusing to serve a police officer last week, the shopkeeper said in a U-turn after initially promoting the worker’s “freedom of speech.”

The policeman was with a trainee when he passed a Chocolati Cafe shop in Wallingford, according to the police union leader.

“They were received with a bit of hostility,” Mike Solan, president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, told Fox News.

Chocolati owner Christian Wong addressed the issue on the company’s Facebook page on Wednesday, saying, “While we respect this team member’s freedom of speech, the actions on this case do not reflect our views as a company.

“We are actively working directly with this team member and the local district to create a more welcoming, inclusive, and cohesive community for all.”

An officer and a trainee said they were “a little hostile” in a shop in Chocolati Cafes.Facebook

The post sparked a backlash and went viral with over 5,000 comments.

Two days later, Wong announced that the employee in question and the company had decided to part ways.

“We work to drive diversity and inclusion in our company and to have our team members follow their passions and address the critical issues we face as a city and nation,” Wong wrote. “However, our team members cannot decide which customers they want to serve because of their personal political beliefs. This is simply not an acceptable practice in our business. “

Chocolate shop owner Christian Wong claims he is working with the police station to create “a more welcoming, inclusive, and cohesive community.”REUTERS

Wong said he planned to meet with the officer involved on Sunday to “apologize personally – just as I would apologize to any customer who has been denied service based on an employee’s personal views.”

Solan noted that the knockback at the candy store proved “that people still really support the police”.