After a recent change in deportation policies under President Donald Trump, a new trend in restaurants is popping up throughout the United States. The sanctuary restaurant concept comes from a national advocacy group known as the Restaurant Opportunities Center.
These restaurants want to help marginalized groups and minorities and have zero tolerance for racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia.
Temple University’s student run cafe, The Rad Dish Co-op, opened two years ago in Ritter Hall. They specialize in organic and sustainable food.
It’s one of a dozen other designated sanctuary restaurants throughout Philadelphia. The Rad Dish Co-Op has recently been made a sanctuary restaurant, which makes them unique and the only one on a college campus.
Ben Safran is a worker and board member of the Rad Dish Co-op who supports the movement and thinks the global system is unjust.
“It’s hard to create an environment free of harassment and discrimination based on any identity marker, based on race, gender or immigration status,” said Ben.
Sanctuary restaurants believe that diversity makes us stronger and stands with diverse communities to help protect their liberties, dignities and freedoms.
“I think it’s important for us as a cooperative business which makes workers’ rights the center of our mission and to find different ways to stand up for workers’ rights and it’s tough,” Ben added.
Megan Bazin is a Temple University student who loves the idea behind sanctuary restaurants. She loves The Rad Dish but thinks it shouldn’t be so exclusive.
“I wish you just didn’t need need access into the building to get in here. I wish it was more public,” Megan said.
For more information and a list of other sanctuary restaurants in Philadelphia visit Sanctuary Resturants.
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