London's Cereal Killer Café Vandalized By Gentrification Protestors
On September 26, London's cereal-only shop Cereal Killer Café was attacked by protestors who threw smoke bombs and paint at it.
The cereal shop has attracted tourists from around the world to eat at the U.K.'s first-ever café dedicated solely to cereal, and protestors are upset that it is ruining the neighborhood.
Owners and twin brothers Gary and Alan Keery opened the café in December 2014, but the shop has received criticism that it is a sign of gentrification in the Shoreditch neighborhood — a neighborhood in East London known for its gritty, artistic ambiance.
Hundreds of protestors took to Shoreditch to vandalize the exterior of the café, while 15 patrons including children barricaded themselves inside. Other new, "gentrified" stores nearby, such as Pret A Manger and Versace, were unscathed by the protests.
The Cereal Killer Café owners took to social media to report what was happening at their shop and are calling this a hate crime. The New York Times reports that someone called the Keerys to tell them, "I hope they kill you next time."
Tonight we were attacked with paint and fire by an angry mob of 200. Riot police are on the scene. pic.twitter.com/GPXLmyMmuN
— Cereal Killer Cafe (@CerealKillerUK) September 26, 2015
The mob won't win, wearing masks with pitch forks and torches, it's 2015. #hatecrime
— Cereal Killer Cafe (@CerealKillerUK) September 27, 2015