First, I want to thank everyone who has offered their support throughout this distressing experience. I’m deeply grateful for your kindness, your willingness to defend me, and the abundance of screenshots you’ve shared to help document the situation.
I’ve had my preliminary meeting with the NAACP Civil Rights Legal Council, followed by discussions with two of their partnering civil rights law firms. I want to acknowledge the NAACP of Lancaster for responding to my initial email immediately—with multiple phone calls and clear concern. They asked that I withhold a public statement until we’d spoken and I had the chance to consult with their legal team.
There are several potential civil and criminal violations that can now be pursued. Beyond racial profiling, the unnecessary escalation with law enforcement, and the manipulation of my words to frame me for a bomb threat—her public statement also targeted my professional reputation. This has the potential to affect my livelihood, especially as I’ve been open about my plans for ministry in Lancaster while navigating this situation publicly on Reddit.
Personally, this experience has been jarring in a way that’s difficult to describe. I had no previous conflict with this café or its owner. I paid for my drink, left a tip, and had what I believed to be a pleasant experience—until the police arrived. Kelsi/Wired Cup called the authorities not once, but twice. And the second call came after I had publicly spoken about grace and reconciliation. To treat a paying customer, a complete stranger, with such unnecessary malice moves this beyond fear or bias and into the realm of willful harm.
I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on what I want and what I’m really fighting for. If I truly believe I’ve been called to ministry, then I have to ask myself: how can I fight for others if I won’t fight for myself? How can I protect this city if I won’t protect the truth? At the very least, this moment allows me to build new relationships and learn what tools and opportunities exist to improve civil rights in Lancaster. That alone excites me. And so, I’ve made the decision to leave no stone unturned—locally, statewide, or nationally.
That said, I’ve been advised to offer one more opportunity for reconciliation. Kelsi/Wired Cup would need to:
This is, in my view, a far better path than 1–2 years of civil and criminal filings, litigation, and legal fees. It’s also a chance—for her and for all of us—to show that growth is possible when accountability is honored.
— brotherAL
https://open.spotify.com/track/2BJOEC80PMPzntKMfdXnaT?si=d35eff97b2f8422b
This is about who WE are, and what WE stand for.