A pop-up eatery is feeding protesters near the White House, for free
Earl's First Amendment Grill has only been in existence since Friday, but Washington, D.C.'s newest eatery has already more than doubled in size and fed 1,500 protesters, free of charge.
Reggie Guy, 23, told The Washington Post he wanted to do something to show his support for the demonstrators who have been gathering in Lafayette Park, across from the White House. Last Monday, federal law enforcement used tear gas was to disperse peaceful protesters ahead of President Trump's visit to St. John's Church, where he posed for photographs. On Friday, Guy bought $50 worth of hot dogs and buns, and set up a small grill near the church, ready to serve protesters until he ran out of food.
Evan Burstein, a chef who was recently furloughed, saw what Guy was doing and asked how he could help. Using social media, Burstein and other volunteers were able to secure additional tables, coolers, grills, and meat. A sign was also made letting protesters know that the food is free for "freedom fighters," and that "Earl is not one man. Earl is all of us."
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On Saturday, Earl's First Amendment Grill served 500 protesters, and 1,000 more were fed on Sunday. "This isn't our food, this is everybody's food," Burstein told the Post. Pointing toward the White House, he added: "And that isn't his house. It's everybody's house."
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Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
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