Former cop leads protest against Dunkin Donuts worker

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The appearance of a "blacklivesmatter" hashtag on a police officer's coffee cup prompted a small protest outside a Rhode Island Dunkin' Donuts.

Former Providence officer Tony Lepore led Saturday's protest. He told WLNE-TV that he wants the employee who wrote the slogan on the officer's cup fired.

The officer previously told his union the slogan was written on the cup of coffee he bought Oct. 2. He also said an employee was rude to him.

The slogan arose last year during protests nationwide over police violence against civilians.

The union said that officers work tirelessly to protect the public, and they're not happy with the Dunkin' employee's message.

Fraternal Order of Police official Lt. Roger Aspinall said the slogan is anti-police.

"The negativity displayed by the #Blacklivesmatter organization towards police across this nation is creating a hostile environment that is not resolving any problems or issues, but making it worse for our communities," The Executive Board of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #3 said in a statement. "They are doing this by increasing tensions amongst police and the people they serve."

Dunkin' Donuts released a statement saying it regrets the incident and had reached out to the officer to apologize.