Long lines at Big City Coffee after controversy with BSU

BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Lines stretched along the sidewalks of Grove Street Friday as people came to support Big City Coffee at their downtown location.

A Facebook event encouraged people to go to the location in the Linen District to support the business after it closed its location on Boise State's campus in response to student backlash.

The Arbiter reports Big City came to the campus in the fall to replace the Starbucks. It had received backlash from students and community members regarding the owner's support and display of imagery with the 'Thin Blue Line' in support of police, which has been used in counter-protests to the Black Lives Matter movement.

A statement from Boise State says the university did not ask the business to leave, and that the owner requested to be let out of the contract. "After some students began speaking out against the owner's personal beliefs, we explained that we could not violate the First Amendment Rights of anyone on campus," the statement said.

The owner did not want to speak on camera but told CBS2 News that no "Thin Blue Line" flags were placed at the campus location. The downtown location had a flag posted on the door.

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