We, the undersigned member-owners and community patrons of the Davis Food Co-op, write to express our profound alarm and opposition to the recent decision to contract private security personnel equipped with tactical vests, tasers, and other militarized gear. We believe this action fundamentally betrays our Co-op’s values and acts as a disruptive force, sowing intimidation and distrust in our community.

Co-ops are founded on principles of an ethical, local, and community-owned alternative to corporate grocery chains. The Davis Food Co-op is an institution built by and for the community to protect our interests and foster well-being.

Security personnel in military-style equipment are inherently threatening. It creates the perception of shopping as a criminal act and makes the store feel like a space under occupation. This is particularly true for our vulnerable neighbors, such as people of color, unhoused individuals, and those facing mental health challenges, who are disproportionately affected by these increased “security” measures.

Additionally, a Chairman of local Indigenous tribes explained that Indigenous community members turn away if they encounter a militarized presence.

The Co-op’s signage to the public broadcasts “the changing environment” as a motivating reason for the security detail. Right now, across the United States, we are witnessing the normalization of private security forces being used to displace, harm, and threaten vulnerable communities. For our community-owned grocery store to adopt this same aesthetic and strategy is heartless and uncreative, and it would signal a dangerous alignment with these oppressive tactics, whether intended or not.

Likewise, widespread cuts in funding and social programs are elevating the need for community-based services and support, placing greater pressure on local organizations and neighbors to address what was once provided by government resources. In light of the hostility and abandonment in the current political landscape, our community spaces must strengthen their commitments to invest in inclusive and local support and care. 

We understand from the Co-op signage that “several staff members have expressed concerns about safety.” We support a vision of community safety for all. We reject the Co-op’s method of addressing this. Instead, we invite you to engage in a dialogue with community members to explore and develop alternative solutions.

True security arises from community trust and connection, not from escalation and intimidation. This action undermines the trust that is a cooperative’s greatest asset and replaces it with a superficial, fear-based spectacle.

Therefore, we demand the following immediate actions:

• The urgent removal of all private security personnel equipped with tactical vests, tasers, and any other militarized equipment from the Davis Food Co-op property.
• A commitment to a community-centered approach to safety, developed transparently with community input. This includes de-escalation training for Co-op staff, investment in community outreach, and other nonviolent, inclusive strategies. 
• Host practical community workshops where the Co-op clearly communicates its specific security concerns and experiences, motivating recent security measures. The meetings should invite community members to share their feedback, suggest alternatives, and collaborate on solution-driven actions to rebuild trust and regain a sense of shared safety in the store.
• Build on the Co-op’s prior community-facing programs and initiatives, including partnerships with local organizations that encourage support, care, and dialogue with vulnerable neighbors. 
• Reach out to the community to facilitate the transfer of skills, knowledge, and economic resources in areas where the Co-op determines that its internal “capacity and at times, training for” is insufficient.
• Implement community outreach initiatives aimed at supporting neighbors on the Co-op premises seeking access to electricity, rest, shelter, community, and reduced-price or free food, such as food offered and received through the Co-op Freedge. These efforts must be community-oriented and clearly demonstrate the Co-op's commitment to creating, facilitating, and maintaining a safe and inclusive space for all individuals.
• A public statement from the Management and Board of Directors acknowledging the consequences of their decision to contract militarized security services and renewing their commitment to the Inclusivity page on the Davis Food Co-op website: “The Co-op Belongs to Everyone. Whoever you are, you are welcome here. It is our responsibility to our diverse Members, shoppers, staff, and community members to actively practice inclusivity. For us, that looks like ensuring our policies, staffing, management, communications, accessibility and attitudes are aligned and accommodating to everyone in our community.”

We are a community that cares for one another. We do not need to be policed in our grocery store.

We will be collecting signatures on this petition and will present them to the Board. If our concerns are not addressed, we are prepared to elevate our response, which could include a dispute resolution process or a boycott campaign of the Davis Food Co-op until this issue is resolved.

Our membership and patronage are founded on our shared values. We will not support a co-op that embodies the very forces of alienation and intimidation it was created to resist.

Please reach out to dfcpetition2025@gmail.com if you have any further questions or want to speak with us.