There was coffee and debate on offer at Café Oranje Tuesday — with and without cops.

A small group of protesters set up a rival coffee-and-chat table outside 312 King St. E to coincide with the Hamilton police-organized "Coffee with a Cop" gathering inside the café.

The event, meant as a casual forum for residents to connect with local officers, was originally supposed to run out of the Mulberry Coffeehouse on James Street. But that venue cancelled — spurring a polarizing debate — after complaints some residents feel uncomfortable around police.

Café manager Mina Falcone said she was unfazed by the counter-coffee protest but "disappointed" the participants didn't come inside to "have a conversation."

"You just sort of had those young people out there and the older people in here," she said. "I wish they had come in ... We need to talk to each other."

Activist Trish Mills, however, labelled Coffee with a Cop a "public relations event" that doesn't address systemic problems with how police interact with vulnerable populations.

"It's kind of insulting, holding this two doors down from where a woman was killed," said Mills, referring to the shooting death of a 30-year-old woman last October at 320 King. St. E.

That shooting death is being probed by the provincial Special Investigations Unit. Police said the woman had a knife when she was shot.

Protesters at the rival "Coffee Without Cops" pointed out that incident and other local police-involved injuries or deaths as they chatted up passersby on King Street East.

Some exiting café patrons ignored the protest, while a handful chatted or tried to debate with activists. None approached by The Spectator near the end of the event wanted to comment on the record.

Hamilton police Const. Ray Wong said the protest wasn't particularly disruptive to the inside event, but added some visitors asked about the cancelled Mulberry forum.

Wong said the police service respects that decision and understands not everyone is going to be a fan of the event.

"It's all about engagement, breaking down the barriers, letting them know we are people just like them and we want to help. We're not out to get them, we want to help," he said.

Ironically, Falcone said she agreed to host the contentious forum before even learning about the cancellation at the Mulberry.

She said response from her regular customers was positive during the event and she would consider hosting again. "I think there is value in having a chance to interact with the front-line (officers) you might see in your community."

Did anyone react negatively to her decision?

"Yes, mostly on social media," Falcone said with a shrug. "I wasn't deterred. Everyone deserves a voice."

mvandongen@thespec.com

905-526-3241 | @Mattatthespec

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