TOMS RIVER – The owner of Riv’s Toms River Hub issued an apology for a post that’s come up in social media with a controversial photo of the digital sign outside their old location.
The picture of the sign out front of the old Rivoli’s restaurant said “I can breathe. I Obey Law.”
People assumed it was in relation to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Police had been called to the scene because a store owner believed there was a forgery going on. Floyd was restrained. Cameras showed an officer with his knee on Floyd’s neck. He died and the officers involved have been fired.
Rivoli said that he didn’t post it in relation to Floyd but in regards to Eric Garner six years ago. Garner was approached by officers in New York under suspicion of selling single cigarettes without a tax stamp. While being arrested, he pulled away and was wrestled to the ground. He said “I can’t breathe” 11 times before he lost consciousness. He later died and the medical examiner ruled it a homicide.
The Facebook post said: “We apologize for our projection at our old restaurant. What was done to George Floyd on Monday is a disgrace and there is NO way we support that. The post that is circulating right now is from over 6 years and if I could go back in time I wouldn’t posted that on my signage. Again, we apologize.”
The reaction to Rivoli’s apology was varied. Some congratulated him for his change in point of view. Some said they would support him even more during this tough times. Others said he was only apologizing because he got caught, and pointed out how he shares conspiracy theories on Twitter.
