Earlier this year a new coffee shop, named Weird Wave Coffee, was opened in Boyle Heights, California. The coffee shop, which is owned by John Schwartz, Mario Chavarria and Jackson Defa, serves coffee from Heart Roasters of Portland, Oregon, and pastries from Homeboy Industries, which provides training and support to former gang members or previously incarcerated people. But apparently, this isn’t good enough for many living in Boyle Heights because they’re currently campaigning to have them closed.

One of the groups protesting the coffee shop is Defend Boyle Heights. They believe the owners should shut down the store and leave the community. On Facebook, they wrote, “we can’t let Boyle Heights become the new Highland Park, Echo Park or Silverlake! The vast majority – approximately 80-percent renters – can’t afford for that to happen.” The three cities mentioned were all recently been gentrified, and as a result, many low-income people were forced out of the neighborhood.

“Things will only escalate. Not because we want them too, but because this is literally a life or death, home or homeless, battle,” they continued, noting, “since the 1990s, Boyle Heights has struggled to get and keep authentically affordable housing. It’s not just about what a dozen of activists want; it’s about what all these residents who organize with all the groups that make up our coalition want.”

They added, “say no to Weird Wave Coffee! Stand with the low-income working class majority of Boyle Heights! This isn’t just about coffee; it’s about keeping Boyle Heights affordable! Dile no a los cocos! Gentrifiers are not welcomed in Boyle Heights! Fuera!”

Shortly after the group’s post on Facebook, angry residents went to the coffee shop and started harassing the people there. “I was able to visit this coffee shop, but not without getting threatened, insulted, and physically hurt on my way in,” recalled a customer on Instagram, noting, “I agree wholeheartedly with the concept of protesting and making one’s voices heard. However, I do not, in any way, agree with the concept of non-peaceful protesting.”

In response, the coffee shop released a statement. “Weird Wave Coffee is a company owned by three individuals committed to a fair and consistent approach to the grassroots enterprise of selling coffee,” explained the owners, adding, “we recognize the role a coffee shop plays in a community, both as an advocate for that community but also as a vendor who’s role in the local economy is impactful. At Weird Wave, our goal is largely to supply incredibly delicious coffee and non-alcoholic beverages to the community.”

Their statement made it clear that they do whatever they can to not hurt the local community. “Weird Wave’s approach to doing business locally begins and ends with keeping the flow of money inside the community,” they pointed out, noting, “we take special pains to seek out vendors for our products who share our local-first approach.” Despite this, the residents still want them gone.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time the local community living in Boyle Heights has tried to drive out businesses. For instance, earlier this year, an art space called PSSST for was forced to close after harassment from protesters made it difficult for them to fundraise money. “The ongoing controversy surrounding art and gentrification in Boyle Heights caused PSSST to become so contested that we are unable to ethically and financially proceed with our mission,” stated the organizers at the time of the closing.

“Our young nonprofit struggled to survive through constant attacks. Our staff and artists were routinely trolled online and harassed in-person. This persistent targeting, which was often highly personal in nature, was made all the more intolerable because the artists we engaged are queer, women, and/or people of color.” they added.

“While our closure might be applauded by some, it is not a victory for civil discourse and coalition building at a time when both are in short supply. The ongoing representation of a divisive battle–nonprofit art spaces versus the residents of Boyle Heights–resulted in the mischaracterization of PSSST as being fundamentally in opposition with the varied intersectional communities we aimed to support,” they continued, noting, “this made fundraising an impossibility. Without financial support, PSSST, a fledgling nonprofit, cannot survive.”

The authoritarian left must not be allowed to control the lives and businesses of others. If the situation was reversed, there’d likely be a massive amount of outrage. Conservatives should work together to push back against their bullying tactics. We need to show them that violence and intimidation won’t work.