BLM Protest Targets Sub Shop Mask Policy

Demonstrators converged on a Hamden sub shop Friday and the store closed early, after an employee was sent home for showing up in a face mask reading, ​“Black Lives Matter.”

The employee, Andre Alexander, arrived at DiBella’s Subs on Dixwell Avenue in Hamden for his 3 p.m. shift wearing his Black Lives Matter mask. As he was getting ready to clock in for his shift at the cash register, his manager told him to change his mask. Company policy requires employees to wear face masks — without words or symbols.

“I’m not going to change my mask,” Alexander said, recounting the incident later. ​“You’re going to have to send me home.”

“Okay, go home then, Andre,” his manager told him, according to Alexander.

He left the store, stood outside, and logged onto Facebook, where he began live-streaming what happened to him. (Watch his video at left.)

“I feel betrayed right now. I feel hurt. This is an injustice,” he told the Independent as he recounted the incident from outside the store around 4:30 p.m., where he was gathered with a group of 15 other demonstrators who showed up in support of him.

Some of the demonstrators came to the scene after being contacted by Karen Means, a Hamden resident who was arriving for an appointment with her eye doctor next door shortly after Alexander was told to go home. She said that he looked visibly upset, so she approached him to ask what had happened. He told her.

She immediately contacted her son and her friend, Marnie, who both arrived soon after. The friend, Marnie, contacted Laurie Sweet, another Hamden resident active in social justice events.

A group of about ten demonstrators had gathered by then in support of Alexander. The DiBella’s Subs’ staff inside the store called the police, who stayed on scene for more than an hour.

DiBella’s Subs closed for the day at 4:30 p.m. It usually remains open until 9 p.m. The police escorted four employees to their cars before they left at around 4:30 p.m. No one was arrested.

Mayor Curt Leng said later that the police chief plans to review video footage of the incident.

“Why did DiBella’s feel the need to shut the restaurant down?” said Means. ​“No one was yelling, angry. We weren’t even yelling, ​‘Black Lives Matter.’ So for them to shut the restaurant down says a lot.”

An officer told Alexander the manager reported asking him to leave because of a DiBella’s Subs notice issued to employees, which stated that face coverings worn by employees ​“should not have any symbols or words.” The officer showed Alexander a print-out of the policy given to him by the manager.

“OK. They let everybody know what they stand for now. They’ll have to send me home every day,” said Alexander, who is 23 years old and lives in Hamden.

The officer expressed support for Alexander’s right to express himself.

“We appreciate your support,” the officer was told.

The manager could not be reached for comment.

Later, in response to an inquiry from the Independent, DiBella’s Director of Marketing AJ Shear said that in accordance with a policy implemented in April 2020, employees are not allowed to wear any masks other than the company-issued masks. He said that Andre Alexander was asked to switch his personal mask for the company-issued mask.

“DiBella’s Subs feels very strongly about equality and social justice, and we take this accusation very seriously. This incident has nothing to do with the Black Lives Matter message on this individual’s mask,” said Shear.

“Unfortunately, today we are seeing misinformation spread. We pride ourselves on inclusive values, and we have already launched several Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives with employees across our entire footprint this year.”

Police on the scene told Alexander’s supporters they had the right to protest as long as they didn’t harass people.

“When [the police] show up on a scene like this, we know where you stand,” said Sweet. ​“You’re not here to protect us. You’re here to maintain white supremacy, and I’ve freaking had it.”

When asked about the manager, Alexander said, ​“She’s a good person. I’m not going to cast aspersions on her name or drag her name through the mud. However, with this incident, she’s on the wrong side of history. She’s a Caucasian, white woman. She’ll never be able to understand where I’m coming from. She’ll never be able to understand why I am protesting the way I am, why I came in with my mask the way I did.”

Connor Garrett and his father Dan were among the demonstrators in support of Alexander. Connor Garrett wore a Black Lives Matter T‑Shirt when he arrived at DiBella’s after the incident occurred.

After George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis by a police officer, Alexander said, he voiced his concerns to his district manager and general manager about the policy.

“I want to be able to wear a mask in support. What can we do?” he said he asked them. He said that his managers invited him to a conference call with the district manager, general manager and a member from DiBella’s corporate management.

“What you need to do is put out a written statement publicly like so many companies have done in support of the social injustice that has gone on, letting everyone in the community know you are in support of Black Lives Matter,” Alexander said he told them during the meeting. ​“That was about a month ago. I have yet to hear a statement, I have yet to see a statement. So this is my statement.”

He has been working at the DiBella’s Subs’ store for two years and is now a shift manager.

“I’ve been nothing but loyal, on time. I don’t cause any issues. I don’t have any write-ups,” he said.

Alexander is on shift at the store again Saturday at 2 p.m.

“Tomorrow, I’m coming in with another mask,” he said as the other demonstrators present applauded.

Protest, Business Resume

Alexander and protesters returned Saturday to continue questioning the restaurant’s policy, while the restaurant reopened for business and drew defenders among its customers.

For his 2 p.m. shift, Alexander came with another mask. But rather than being sent out of the shop, Alexander walked out.

Early, Saturday morning, DiBella’s COO Bill Kressner reached out to Alexander to discuss his concerns and offered to pay Alexander for his shift, even if he chose to protest instead. Alexander said he refused, saying he would just take the time off.

At 1:30 p.m., Alexander walked inside to briefly speak with the manager, who told Alexander he was not fired. ​“They just kinda wanted me to talk, but I didn’t divulge too much information. They said they understand what we’re doing and that you have to do what you have to do.”

By 2 p.m., 30 protesters arrived outside DiBella’s with signs and megaphones. As protesters gathered, Acting Police Chief John Sullivan and Deputy Chief Bo Kicak came by take questions from protesters to remind them not to block the DiBella’s entrance. ​“We’re here today to assist everybody and make sure everybody’s safe, but we’re going to stay out of everybody’s way,” Sullivan said.

Some protesters brought their children along to protest. ​“It’s not okay this restaurant does not support black lives” said 10-year-old Olivia.

Olivia’s friend Simone, who is entering 7th grade, recalled an incident in fifth grader when a classmate at Spring Glen School told her she should be hanged. Simone said she wishes Hamden would do more to fight racism. ​“They need to let the man work with his Black Lives Matter mask,” said Simone.

Means, who came back to protest again on Saturday, said she’s proud of the next generation. ​“They’re out here and they’re fighting hard because they have friends of every race, every color and they’re inclusive and they want their friends not to be harassed.”

After reading comments on this Independent article and hearing reactions from other Hamden residents, Means argued people are too caught up in enforcing a vague and newly established policy. ​“People just started wearing masks, so how long was that policy there? How long have we been doing this? That policy just came up! To send him home for that just wasn’t fair.”

“And it’s not like the mask is discriminating against anyone — it’s not hate speech!” Means exclaimed.

Cassi Meyerhoffer who is an associate professor at Southern studying systemic racism and racial residential segregation added, ​“Like with this place saying it’s ​‘our policy’ you can’t have symbols on your masks, every policy in this country upholds white supremacy. So if we keep following every policy, we’re going to keep perpetuating white supremacy.”

Coming out of the store, one Hamden resident named Joanne, who declined to be photographed or give her last name, said she doesn’t like that people are trying to destroy businesses. ​“There’re plenty of us in this town who don’t like all this nonsense going on — bullying threatening business and residents,” she said. ​“It’s crap! BLM is a communist organization that wants to destroy the country. Wake up! Wake up, stop drinking the Kool-aid!”

“It’s people like Joanne, white privileged people, that will never understand, but you still have to stand your ground and fight for what you believe in,” Alexander said.

Another customer and Hamden resident, Nora Englander. said the protesters outside DiBella’s were spreading the ​“nonsense” of the Black Lives Matter movement. Englander who moved to Hamden from South Carolina, said she comes from a long line of police and correctional officers in her family. ​“Back home, this would not be tolerated,” she said.

Pointing to some of the children who were shouting ​“Black Lives Matter” into megaphones, Englander said, ​“This is what happens when you don’t smack your kids, give out participation trophies telling them everyone’s a winner, and telling them they’re perfect when they’re not.”

Englander said the protesters should not have brought their children and should feel ashamed for hurting businesses.

Alexander said he was not not wishing any negative impact on the business, but said he wanted to spread his message and to make people aware of the company’s actions.

DiBella’s Director of Marketing AJ Shear commented in a later email to the Independent, ​“DiBella’s Subs feels very strong about equality and social justice, and Andre has been a strong leader and valued employee.”

Shear said no employees have been allowed an exemption from the company uniform policy, including the face mask policy. He said the policy of company-issued masks is critical to ensure every mask is clean, safe, and hygienic.

So far, DiBella’s does not have plans to change the policy. ​“We value our employees’ perspectives, and are committed to their continued growth. We encourage an open dialogue, and believe conversations drive positive change,” Shear added.

Alexander told the Independent that he plans to keep wearing his mask. ​“We’ll see if I keep getting sent home, but either way I’m still looking for a better job.”