Protesters threw insects into two Byron Hamburger restaurants in central London that scared customers off without eating their food. The movement came after widespread reports that the burger company took part in an immigration sting against 35 members of its staff.
The protesters, from London Black Revs and the Malcolm X Movement, were carrying buckets of cockroaches, crickets and locusts that were released into the restaurants. Both burger establishments were closed immediately after the insects were released.
“London Black Revs and the Malcolm X Movement have taken affirmative against the Byron restaurants chain in response to the despicable actions in the past weeks having entrapped waiters, back of house staff and chefs in collaboration with UK Boarder Agency,” the two groups said in a statement on Facebook.
Insects Burger Restaurants
They group added the actions should serve “as a warning to other businesses in the hospitality and catering industry that you will be targeted by those who stand in solidarity with immigrants if you entrap migrant workers.” They didn’t say whether anymore insects would be thrown into the burger restaurants or not.
Earlier in the week, Byron had inadvertently trended on Twitter with the hashtag #boycottbyron after it was claimed dozens of staff members from 15 restaurants were called to an event in London on July 4 that had, in fact, been arranged by the company in conjunction with the Home Office.
The staff, reportedly from Brazil, Egypt, Albania and Nepal, were arrested for breaching immigration rules.
However, both Byron and the Home Office have said several of the group’s restaurants were visited by Home Office staff instead.
“The safety of our customers and restaurant teams is paramount, and our priority is now to work with local police to minimise the risk of further incident,” Byron said in a statement.
