Allie’s Donuts - From RI Favorite to Polarizing Political Brand That Has Offended Nearly Everyone
GoLocalProv News Team
Allie’s Donuts - From RI Favorite to Polarizing Political Brand That Has Offended Nearly Everyone
Allie’s owner Matt Drescher on Sunday infuriated almost everyone with his latest political position.
After cutting the shop's discount to police and military in June in a political statement, Allie's said it now is offering free donuts for people to bring to police.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTFor decades, the North Kingstown bakery was a Rhode Island favorite — in the same class as Del’s, Benny’s and coffee milk -- a Rhode Island favorite that was uniquely local.
Now, it is the center of political controversy.
The venerable Frederick Alvin “Allie” Briggs began the tradition of Allie’s in 1968 when he converted a sub shop and began rolling out the confections. By the mid-1980s, he would sell 800 dozen donuts a day during the summer.
The business transferred to his daughter Anne and her husband Bud Drescher. And, the family continued to use the same secret flour from a small company in Wisconsin. Now, the parents turned over the company to son Matt Drescher and the company entered into the political fray this summer.
The younger Drescher took an activist role. He hosted politicians. He spoke began to speak out, but over the months the message has changed and often contradicting previous messages.
It started in early June.
Allie’s announced it had rescinded its discounts to police and military members, saying “It’s time to recognize the voices and stand with our fellow Black and Brown Rhode Islanders who want to be treated equally.”
“Until local police take action to solve problems with racism and injustice, @alliesdonuts will choose with the people of our great state,” wrote Allie’s in their initial statement. “We will no longer offer military or police discounts.”
The decision sparked immediate responses and thrust the bakery into the middle of the debate over Black Lives Matter, defund the police, and the depths of partisan politics.
Rhode Island State Representative and retired Navy officer Camille Vella-Wilkinson said that Allie’s Donuts should be boycotted for denying discounts to police and military, with the business citing racism as the reason.
Vella-Wilkinson stressed however her position was personal — and not political.
“I supported the peaceful demonstrations against violence, racism, and discrimination by attending a rally at the Statehouse alongside fellow legislators with quiet dignity,” said Vella-Wilkinson. “I will protest Allie's Donuts with my fellow veterans in the same manner.”
On Sunday, Allie's changed course, posting the following:
Hey y’all! Starting today, we are putting together half-dozen box gifts, FREE to the public, as long as they promise to bring them to their local police departments!
Come down and grab them while they’re available, and if you tag us in a photo of you alongside the police men & women, we will make sure to get you a FREE ALLIE’s T-SHIRT!
Obviously supplies will go quickly, but we will do this every day we can until further notice!
Let’s all be Allies. (Apostrophe not included!). #StrongerTogether #itTakesAVillage #community
The new pro-police messaging angered many on social media.
George Marley, one of the hundreds who had originally supported Allie's decision to rescind the policy discount took to Facebook and wrote, "Allie's Donuts, Inc. I fought for you. All for naught."
Allie’s Tweeted (after their original message) that their intent is to give a box of donuts to “every single protester that can peacefully walk into a local police department and ask for the police to support their community. Your move, America.”
Another day, another controversy for the little donut shop in North Kingstown.
Drescher refused to comment for the story.