Speak Out: Can Business Owners Refuse Service to Anyone?
(Photo Credits: The Red Hen Facebook)
Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted about a restaurant incident where she was asked by the owner of The Red Hen in Lexington, Virginia, to leave the premises while in the middle of dining with her family. The episode, now being called by the media as The Sarah Sanders Incident, occurred last Friday night, June 22, 2018.
Last night I was told by the owner of Red Hen in Lexington, VA to leave because I work for @POTUS and I politely left. Her actions say far more about her than about me. I always do my best to treat people, including those I disagree with, respectfully and will continue to do so
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) June 23, 2018
The restaurant co-owner, Stephanie Wilkinson, drove to Red Hen to see the situation for herself when her distressed staff called her and informed her of Sarah Sanders’ presence in the restaurant. Reportedly, Wilkinson’s staff was “concerned” and that they felt “uncomfortable serving Sanders” because of her defense of and stance on several issues like Trump’s immigration policy that enabled the separation of parents from their children and also of Trump’s transgender military ban. Wilkinson said she talked to her staff—some of whom are LGBT—and asked what they wanted and they “all agreed they wanted her to leave.” Read more about Wilkinson’s side here.
Sanders’ tweet was met by a flurry of negative comments for both sides. Wilkinson was accused of bigotry by Sanders’ father, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, while others took to Yelp to leave either one-star or five-star reviews on The Red Hen.
Bigotry. On the menu at Red Hen Restaurant in Lexington VA. Or you can ask for the “Hate Plate”. And appetizers are “small plates for small minds” https://t.co/rHEVdcQwwh
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) June 23, 2018
I will never eat at Red Hen!!!? NEVER!! MAGA. BOYCOTT red hen. ❤️
— Kathy L❤️ (@kathy5langley) June 24, 2018
And that is why we love you. You set the bar and are a great example for all Americans.
— Weslee Wells (@weslwell) June 24, 2018
Just because YOU do not like the answer does not make it a lie.
Just because YOU do not like the message does not make it a lie
Just because YOU do not like the person talking does not make them a liar— Todd (@ToddXena) June 24, 2018
Comments for Sanders on the other hand, were stated in various ways but the bottom line is: “You reap what you sow” or something to that effect. Take a look at some of the tweets below.
Obviously the comments were in reference to the gay cake incident that others now see as an unfortunate precedent to the current divisiveness. Others see it that way because during a December 2017 press briefing, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Trump supports allowing businesses to hang signs saying they won’t serve LGBTQ people.
Your Dad sided w Kim Davis when she refused to follow a SCOTUS order to issue marriage licenses to gays and he thought it was wonderful. Red Hen didn’t break any laws, exercised right to refuse service, according toSCOTUS and condemns them #DoubleStandard #SHSIsALiar #Karma
— Brigid Haney (@wer4ky) June 24, 2018
A true American Patriot! #SarahSandersResign pic.twitter.com/ssCjKwe4mj
— Indivisible GovTrack (@IndFLGovTrack) June 24, 2018
— ✨ (@ofOrygun) June 25, 2018
I agree. Unfortunately, this administration doesn’t allow for debate. She chides, debases, and lies in her official capacity every day. And when someone asks a hard question or disagrees, they are fired or skewered in the press. That’s not debate.
— Anywhere But Here (@pflora0317) June 24, 2018
Here’s what you left out; The employees did begin serving you, but were uncomfortable, so they called the owner who came from her home. She asked the employees, “Should I ask her to leave?” An overwhelming, YES. So she did so, quietly. YOU made it public. https://t.co/etXr14F2xB
— Chet Powell (@ChetPowell) June 24, 2018
Thoughts and prayers…
— Elisa (@ElisaAP29) June 24, 2018
I really don’t care…do you?! ♀️♀️
— D (@divadi825) June 24, 2018
Republicans fought for business owners to have the right to refuse to serve people. I guess Sarah HuckaBS Sanders thought this would only apply when people were gay, not when people are liars damaging the fabric of our democracy.
#lovewins #karmawins— Bev (@BevReese) June 25, 2018
#TrumpColluded #TrumpConcentrationCamps #TrumpRussia #RussianRepublicans #PeeTapes #StormyDaniels #KarenMcdougal #PornStars #Resist #TheResistance #NeverAgain #BlueWave2018 #MeToo pic.twitter.com/got9Ml1FDr
— Giorgio Tuscani (@giorgiotuscani) June 25, 2018
Meanwhile, Walter Shaub—an American attorney who specializes in government ethics and who served as the director of the United States Office of Government Ethics for many years—called out Sanders for using her official White House account to tweet about the Red Hen incident. Shaub says as a customer, Sanders is free to leave a bad review but using her official government account to do so is a clear violation of federal law.
Sarah, I know you don’t care even a tiny little bit about the ethics rules, but using your official account for this is a clear violation of 5 CFR 2635.702(a). It’s the same as if an ATF agent pulled out his badge when a restaurant tried to throw him/her out. https://t.co/Fj6OfBAdew
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) June 23, 2018
Sanders used her official govt account to condemn a private business for personal reasons. Seeks to coerce business by using her office to get public to pressure it. Violates endorsements ban too, which has an obvious corollary for discouraging patronage. Misuse reg covers both.
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) June 23, 2018
Opening sentences of 5 CFR 2635.702 cover both; 702(a) gives example of coercion; 702(c) gives example of endorsement. Also 2635.101(b)(8) bars preferential treatment, with obvious corollary for singling out. She can lob attacks on her own time but not using her official position
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) June 23, 2018
Hey Sarah. The @realDonaldTrump Trump Supreme Court just ruled bakers can refuse service to gay couples on moral grounds. The Red Hen refused to serve you dinner – also on moral grounds. Get it? @whpresscorps @kwelkernbc @PeterAlexander @JoeNBC @dccc @foxandfriends @maddow @AP
— mark adams (@markadams74) June 25, 2018
Could this be how gay a couple feels when someone refuses to make them a cake? Or how a black person felt (during the Jim Crow era and probably after) when ever they wanted to go out for a meal? This probably felt like an undeserved slap in the face, was it undeserved? #Karma
— DesertDystopia (@desertdystopia) June 25, 2018
Funny how that works… you support policy that allows businesses to discriminate against the LGBT community, but are upset when it happens to you. Interesting.
And you may have left quietly, but tweeting about it negates your quiet respect regarding the issue.— Susie Baldwin (@SusieB1218) June 25, 2018
Asked if Wilkinson regretted the 86 on Sarah Sanders, she said, “I would have done the same thing again.” Adding, “We just felt there are moments in time when people need to live their convictions. This appeared to be one.”
What do you think of this situation, guys? Can business owners really refuse service to anyone in the United States? What does the law say in your area? If you were Stephanie Wilkinson, what would you have done? Would you ask Sarah Sanders to leave? Why or why not? More importantly, have you ever been refused service by business owners because of your sexual orientation? Share with us your thoughts and stories in the comments section below.
I think this is karma at it’s best, republicans are always passing bills that gives the religious the right to refuse service due to their beliefs, so Sanders is just getting what they promote back at her.
I thought Trump is all about ‘saying it how it is’, and against pc culture, well, there you have it guys, the owner of that restaurant kept it real and non pc! lol!
And before the naysayers start talking how it’s discrimination, etc, remember, we gays can still be refused service in many places and get those nasty stares from those loving ‘family values’ type of people.
Ok so, if a restaurant refuses to serve gay people are you OK with that? If you aren’t OK with that you’re a hypocrite. I think people with MAGA hats should descend on the place and destroy the business.
I’m not ok with that, neither with Red Hen’s action despite the fact I despise this current administration as well. Discrimination is still discrimination. It was a bad way to run their business, the same way starbucks, cakeboss, chick fila handled it as well. All I’m saying is that she’s getting what most gays and minorities get on a daily basis. I would not step foot on those ridiculous business, and despite the fact I’m not a fan of 45, Red Hen is just as bad as the places I mentioned.
As a young black african American, Anon educate me on your statement saying that “minorites and gays get this on the daily basis”. You talking about discrimination I gather. Unless I been under a rock but I see a huge difference in discrimination among minorites and gays in the United States. It’s not perfect but its a lot better than it was 10 to 20 years ago. Gay marriage is legal in most states and we were blessed to see a black President. We have black governors, Senators, Mayor and even a long time black on the Supreme Court. We witnessed Pride celebrations bigger and better than ever. We see gays adopting kids and even giving blood to help our fellow man. Hope you see my point and lets give credit where credit is due. We have a divisive ignorant President but still, I wouldn’t even think of moving to another country because I love American and apalled how advanced we become in regard to discrimination. I think people should think twice before they say something like “minorities and gays get this on the daily basis.” I know blacks aren’t the only minority but as a black man, that’s what witnessed among blacks over the years.
Just because she supports someone’s right to refuse service. Doesn’t mean she’d refuse to serve a gay couple if that was her job. Thats the point I believe she was trying to make.
Nicely written post, Dave, if you, or whomever (credit, please!), if not, on blog staff. You seem to have covered all the bases with equanimity.
Hey, if the Supreme Court says that bakery can refuse wedding cake service to gay couples on some bogus “religious beliefs”, then why can’t the Red Hen owner refuse service to someone who lies to America…because her boss is doing the same thing to America…for REAL reasons!
It wasn’t bogus religious beliefs, it was misguided religious beliefs. The Red Hen owner refused service based on moral grounds. She disagreed with the Administration and exercised her voice by asking Ms. Sanders to leave her restaurant. And of course Ms. Sanders father, Gov. Huckabee was defending his daughter. This is how the 1% of this country chooses to govern. All I can say to you is to show them in the mid-term elections. Go out and vote and that is how you exercise your right to b**ch.
I would have done the same thing as the owner. I would have done it if that ass from the WH himself had come in. If the Supreme Court allows businesses (at least that bakery) to refuse wedding cake service to gay couples on bogus “religious/moral issues”, then why can’t the Red Hen owner refuse service to someone who lies to America every day…for a boss who does the same thing…for REAL reasons!?!? As the racist roseanne found out, your actions/words has consequences!
I think nobody should be refused service just because of gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, political opinion or party affiliation etc. if it is about a wedding cake or a dinner at a restaurant. So as wrong as it was in my opinion for the baker to refuse making the wedding cake it’s exactly as wrong to throw a customer out of a restaurant because you don’t like their opinion. If you own a business, you just have to deal with it. If you can’t, it might be better for you to not run a business if you think customer may not be the way you like them to be….
…..and by the way…. I am a very very liberal person who just really gets pissed when people of different sites argue against each other by using double standards only because it fits their narrative.
Under federal anti-discrimination laws, businesses can refuse service to any person for any reason, unless the business is discriminating against a protected class. At the national level, protected classes include: Race or color.
Your argument, while legally accurate, evades the essential question, I believe. Persons committed to genuine equality for all might find the notion of special protected classes unnecessary.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere…. So it was at the Red Hen whether we agree with someone’s political ideology or not.
Absolutely!! The baker can refuse service to the gay couple and this restaurant may refuse service to someone they disagree with politically.
Both of those customers can and will spend their money elsewhere.
It’s stupid of the businesses in both of these cases but in this country freedom also makes you free to be stupid.
Yet now… everyone knows of the Red Hen, didn’t know them before. Not to worry, their business is now probably standing room only. It worked well for Chick-fil-A. This kind of hate has put them on the map as it did the bakeries making wedding cakes. We’ve just made their ignorance – profitable.
I believe your answer is the most logical, and perhaps least emotionally impacted, here. Calling someone’s deeply held religious beliefs bogus etc… seems to ignore the reasons people left England to start colonies across the water. Further, in the Vietnam era the Supreme Court held in favor of objectors on the base of conscience who evaded the draft.
With the larger basic right to marry question now settled, to impose, yes, the non essential right to service in a free market economy seems unnecessary. As you make clear, the marketplace will decide the consequences if any for the choice with no harm to the clients.
Likewise, should the Red Hen elect to follow its conscience in its service decisions, so it shall be with the marketplace left as the ultimate judge.
Unfortunately, Trump’s administration has developed a two way street socially. I personally don’t think any place of business should refuse service to anyone, but once you have someone who sides with others of not serving to Gays or to whoever, then any business has the right to refuse to serve them. Sometimes I just get so tired of the petty crap by adults in the last 18 mos.
Yes to ANYONE. But not to EVERYONE in a certain class of persons.
This is the latest example of how the people (loose usage) who currently occupy high seats in what we now must accept as government live a double standard. The make rules for others but then whine, using taxpayer funded means, when they get the same sort of treatment. Yes, let business owners refuse whoever they want. Karma doesn’t care about your politics, but does care about your actions, and karma can, and I believe will, be a real bitch.
Honestly, the owner of the restaurant and her staff made a stand. Would it have reached this level if a certain person hadn’t done what she did? Who will know. I think the bigger issue, and the one everyone wants to ignore apparently, is the fact that there were federal law violations by the offended party. Want to lay odds there are no consequences, AGAIN, for the Trump Administration and staff?
YES! I love the Red Hen…give them a taste of their own medicine. Her father is a bigot, he sided with Kim Davis when she denied marriage licenses to gay couples.
Well , I guess that thing at Starbucks where the guys were lounging around and not spending any money wasn’t so bad after all .
People, as they unfortunately have come to do over the past several years, will immediately fall into the “she’s right” or “SHE’S right” camps.
And that’s the problem.
There are many issues involved in this latest controversy. And the “dumb” will make their immediate pronouncements which put them on this side or that, in this camp or that, it’s clearly this or that, without EVER taking the time to look into everything it took to get the Red Hen in a battle with the White House.
And with NO desire to reach a middle, common ground … or at least to find some civility in their differences.
And we’ll ALL continue to come out short end of the stick.
If a baker can deny a wedding cake to a gay couple based on religious beliefs then it’s open season on refusing services to a member of the administration on moral grounds. Next thing you know someone might refuse service in a coffee shop based on coffee grounds… this is nothing more than a 1% trying to take the 99% for a ride that the 99% doesn’t want to go. As a gay man in America today I feel more sure that if we don’t continue to fight for our rights the 1% will ensure that no LGBTQ be allowed to love the person they want.
I agree with the owner of the restaurant 100%. I respected the fact that she was very professional about it and put alot of thought behind it. She made sure she was in line with the law. Her employees felt uncomfortable serving that mouth piece so she backed them up with her actions knowing the ramifications of her action.
At this point why not? You cant have it both ways. Make the damn cake. Then you must serve a member of the trump cult. Make the cake? Don’t make the cake? Choose wisely
Apparently, the SCOTUS says you can refuse service to anyone. The Right can’t have it both ways. They cannot refuse us while never being refused themselves. I love the post above that says she was not judged on her sexual orientation or the color of her skin but rather on her character. That is so true. Not sure how this woman sleeps at night knowing how horribly she twists words and truths.
As a business owner my answer is yes. If someone calls to hire my trucks and I don’t want the load, for whatever reason it might be, that is my right as a business owner. It is also the company that is calling to hire my trucks to never call me again for there loads. People need to realize it’s business and if someone doesn’t want your service, money, then you need to go somewhere else. Not cry discrimination or racism and want to sue cause they can’t handle rejection. Go find someone who wants your business and money, end of story!!!
your in business to MAKE money. If customer is rude or causing trouble, etc….then yeah, throw them out!!! had the person been black and this happened…oh god!!
IMO, a business can refuse service to anyone.
What I feel they did wrong is start to serve them, then ask her to leave.
If you refuse to serve a customer, you do it immediately.
Yes – it’s their business and their reputation on the line, any business can and should have the right to not serve somebody or a group of some bodies. But the are always consequences, lost revenue, lost reputation, lost business.
Just a note from somebody who cares I’m sure your employees felt hurt and so forth by everything they’ve heard about your guests that you tossed out and really it’s a personal decision to serve or not serve somebody that we care to serve or not serve for whatever reason but instead of making it into what it was it would have been a perfect opportunity for them to show themselves as wonderful caring people serve her the most wonderful meal she’s ever had be nice to her and then politely ask her if she might like to make a different decision on her feelings towards them after experiencing such a wonderful encounter but no we have to push people out and we have to be the demonstrators and the newsmakers I would much rather have seen that scenario in the news then the scenario that is now in the news love wins is a good thing love didn’t win because nobody was loved in this transaction if you want change in the world you have to be the change all these things really do have meaning but in the point where we’re supposed to use them or do the things that they suggest things like this happen☹
“Management reserves the right to refuse admission”…don’t y’all see that sign at most bars / restaurants ?..they should have braced her before she was seated.
As long as bigotry and discrimination comes from the left it’s perfectly acceptable
Seems that way, how sad for the party that preaches tolerance….
Thank you. At least someone gets it.
Thank you Matt. I’m glad your sane about all of this
You know what, just because they do it doesn’t mean we need to do it. Why lower our standards to their level? It’s the very thing that we don’t like when done to us. I feel that they should have served her and treated her like any other patron. This kind of stuff just has to stop. If we’re not careful we will become what we hate. Treat others as you would want to be treated.
I believe everyone is entitled to there opinions and we don’t have to like them or agree with them. That’s what makes us individuals. She was a paying customer and wasn’t disturbing the other guests. She was kicked out for having an opinion that wasn’t agreed with. So it’s ok to refuse her service for having her own opinion. Isnt that the same as being refused service because your Latino or Asian or homosexual. I could see if she stood up in the middle of her dinner and started preaching her beliefs, disturbing guests. What’s next we’re going to hate our neighbor and have her removed from the local market because she has on a red dress and we hate the color red. I’m sire everyone can think back in there life and remember a time someone disliked you or even hated you because they didn’t like how you dressed or what you believed in. As far as the people who believe what she believes, none of them we’re forced to believe anything. I don’t agree with anything she’s said bit I respect her opinion and don’t hate her for it. I feel sad that she believes what she does and I pray that God opens her heart and eyes. I’m sure I’ll be disliked for my opinion. Thank you everyone for letting me share my opinion.
Sure they can refuse service as long as it isn’t one of the “protected class” as defined in the laws governing the local jurisdiction. While we may find it unsettling that the baker found it morally objectionable to create a gay wedding cake and subsequently refused to do so, I’ve always found it to be within his right to do so. It’s his business and it will live or die as a business by the way he runs it. Similarly, whether I may object or not, the Red Hen owner was within her right to refuse to serve Sanders, et. al. in my opinion. The issue I see here that underlies the Red Hen incident and others is the abject hatred of the duly elected President and the acting out by many of those disgruntled by that election. This seems to suggest the Democrats are spoiling for a fight again and they’ll probably lose this one, too, if it goes that far. Just like the one they lost back in the 1860’s where the Republicans won and freed the slaves. Think about that for a moment. Liberty is not about forcing your will upon another or another’s will upon you. The slaves weren’t free to leave the plantation but both the gay couple and Sanders were free to take their business elsewhere. It also might be prudent to remember that, should things get out of hand, a person has the right to self defense as well. Proceed cautiously because once the first punch or first shot is fired, your fate is no longer entirely in your own hands.
That looks like 1789 is alive, without the guillotine. A person’s attitude shapes others’ response, and I am pleased that the owner sided with her employees and not elitists.
One great American leader once said, “Loyalty down begets loyalty up.” Another leader said he could have to dinner in his [place] whomever he chose.
The People of the Colonies, even I before the official Revolution, hated the Tories precisely because the Tories believed they were entitled to their position because they were part of an elitist machine, led by someone whose on Parliament later agreed was extreme, unjust, opinionated, overbearing, and ultimately, mentally unbalanced. I applaud the owner’s courage in taking a stand.
I know many blind supporters of the current regime decry her for not respecting that hireling of the L.I.C., but so many of those people forget, the One they claim to worship is “no respecter of personages” and aligns Himself with “the least of these”. The secretary needs to realize, you do unto others as you would have them do unto you. She did, and the owner did. It’s simple, and it was right.
As much as I hate what Trump is going, the right thing to do was to serve Sanders as nicely as any other customer, just as the right thing to do was to bake that cake. A public business should not discriminate against a law-abiding customer for any reason. We don’t win the “cake battle” by encouraging bad behavior on our side.
If the Liberals think that it’s okay to refuse someone because of the politics or the employer, they are fucked in the head. When businesses once again refuse Blacks service just because they are black and gays are refused service just because they are gay, the Left will be pissed off as fuck. I’ll just remind people with one phrase: Sarah Huckabee Sanders. I’d think we’d know better.
The right to refuse service sucks, but would you really want to give your money to someone who doesn’t want you there?
The whole fight to force some asshole baker to make you a cake is stupid. Take that money to a business who wants you there, don’t make a big deal about and drive up sales for them from people who think the same way. Walk away, let your friends know about so they can make sure to not go, but don’t give them any real publicity.
Truthfully, I think the owner loses any moral high ground and weakens the argument for nondiscrimination. However, in the case of the baker, there are a few things that have been left out. It wasn’t baking the cake itself, but the decor on the cake that he objected to. In addition, when he declined, he gave the couple referrals to several other bakers who specialized in making wedding cakes for LGBTQ couples. In the bakery, he never turned any customer away. While I disagree with him, I think he handled it appropriately; whereas in this case, she was in the middle of dinner and was not making a spectacle of herself. I dislike Sanders but I kind of have to side with her on this one.
My question would be this, if we know someone has an objection, why force the issue when there are many other business owners that support our community? Shouldn’t we work to reward our supporters rather than punish our detractors? (And as I said the baker in the Colorado case did refer the couple to competitors. This shows a greater level of respect than just him refusing.)
Maybe she should have the wedding cake that refused the gay couple thrown in her face 🙂
Everyone should be able to refuse service to anyone that makes them uncomfortable, don’t agree with or share the same beliefs. Or for any reason for that matter. If that’s the way they choose to run their business . Their business will either survive or fail from it…. But just because Sarah shares that belief doesn’t mean Sarah did or would have personally refused to make a gay couple a cake on their wedding. That’s the point being missed I believe. The place that refused her service was just being petty. Case closed #imnotaSHEEP
There is nothing more American than asking “Miss Information” to leave your restaurant because she continuously pumps the public full of weaponized misinformation and propaganda.
Under any other past administration I would likely feel very different.
The Ass Clown in the White House is dangerous and those that enable him are complicit.
What a piece of crap you sound like.
Everyone should be able to refuse service to anyone that makes them uncomfortable, don’t agree with or share the same beliefs. Or for any reason for that matter. If that’s the way they choose to run their business . Their business will either survive or fail from it…. But just because Sarah shares that belief doesn’t mean Sarah personally or would personally refuse to make a gay couple a cake on their wedding. That’s the point being missed I believe. The place that refused Sarah service was just being petty. #IMNOTASHEEP
Wince this restaurant is located in Washington DC they violated D.C. Code Section D.C. Code Section 2-1402.31 which bars discriminatory actions against people in whole or in part due to characteristics including race, religion, nationality, sex, age, sexual orientation, including political affiliation. Violations including court-ordered corrective action or monetary penalties. I highly doubt that Sarah Sanders will pursue this but she very well could. If anyone like if it were me and I was just enjoying a meal with my boyfriend and we were both wearing MAGA hats which we do own I would press the issue. The fact that our military is no longer accepting transgender people had everythjjng to do with readiness it has nothing to do with them being transgender. Transgender individuals need to take medications. Anyone who is under medical care even Straight people wouldn’t be accepted either. If soldiers were going to need continuing medical medical attention to treat their their condition or if there was a question about whether they would be able to serve in the harshest of battlefield conditions, they were not allowed to join for example if someone had a torn ligament at the time they wanted to join they would be denied. You need to be completely fit to fight if not you are a liability. So the restaurants employees hatred is misguided and haven’t a clue what they are talking about.
It saddens me to say, but Ms. Sanders MUST face the consequences of breaking Federal Law by using her press secretary profile to condemn. Meanwhile, I take issue with the fact they started to serve her and then asked her to leave. If I was to ask someone to leave because of who they were, it would have to be right after they came in. Not after having been seated.
And regarding the business with the cake, he didn’t flat out refuse to serve Gay People, he only refused to cater a same sex marriage (something that is forbidden by God, according to his religion) and thus have his name and art associated with something he found abhorrent. If we are going to try and compare these two events, the owner and restaurant staff must belong to a religion whose tenets include not serving Sarah Huckabee Sanders (or folks who you think have lied, I guess)
I find the narrative here quite interesting. I read the same story on Fox News about Press Secretary Sanders being kicked out of the Red Hen. Their article actually referenced an interview the Washington Post did with the owner. And in that interview, the owner mentioned Sanders and her family got appetizers, until the owner arrived to the restaurant after bring called by her staff earlier to come on-site after being informed of Sanders’s presence and the staff being unwilling to outright refuse service without their boss’s approval.
Some quotes from the owner in the WaPo interview:
[And she knew — she believed — that Sarah Huckabee Sanders worked in the service of an “inhumane and unethical” administration. That she publicly defended the president’s cruelest policies, and that that could not stand…
“I’m not a huge fan of confrontation,” Wilkinson said. “I have a business, and I want the business to thrive. This feels like the moment in our democracy when people have to make uncomfortable actions and decisions to uphold their morals.”…
“Tell me what you want me to do. I can ask her to leave,” Wilkinson told her staff, she said. “They said ‘yes.’ ”
It was important to Wilkinson, she said, that Sanders had already been served — that her staff had not simply refused her on sight. And it was important to her that Sanders was a public official, not just a customer with whom she disagreed, many of whom were included in her regular clientele.
All the same, she was tense as she walked up to the press secretary’s chair.
“I said, ‘I’m the owner,’ ” she recalled, ” ‘I’d like you to come out to the patio with me for a word.’ ”
They stepped outside, into another small enclosure, but at least out of the crowded restaurant.
“I was babbling a little, but I got my point across in a polite and direct fashion,” Wilkinson said. “I explained that the restaurant has certain standards that I feel it has to uphold, such as honesty, and compassion, and cooperation…
“I said, ‘I’d like to ask you to leave.’ ”…
Wilkinson didn’t know how Sanders would react, or whether Trump’s chief spokeswoman had been called out in a restaurant before — as the president’s homeland security secretary had been days earlier.
Sanders’s response was immediate, Wilkinson said: “ ‘That’s fine. I’ll go.’ ”
Sanders went back to the table, picked up her things and walked out. The others at her table had been welcome to stay, Wilkinson said. But they didn’t, so the servers cleared away the cheese plates and glasses.
“They offered to pay,” Wilkinson said. “I said, ‘No. It’s on the house.’ ”]
And on the Fox News article referencing the WaPo interview with Wilkinson, the owner of the Lexington, VA Red Hen restaurant, Sanders was quoted saying:
[Sanders confirmed the events on Twitter, saying she was told to leave by the owner because she worked for the president.
“Her actions say far more about her than about me,” she tweeted. “I always do my best to treat people, including those I disagree with, respectfully and will continue to do so.”]
So not only was Sanders refused service, she did it with class. After the owner asked her to leave, she left without argument. She even offered to pay for her and her family’s appetizers, but the owner said it was on the house. No lawsuits were made, nothing had to go to the Supreme Court. Sanders fully acknowledges that a privately owned business has the right to choose who they do business with. And this petty argument that she’s not allowed to complain on her own Twitter account if it hurts a business in the process? Absolutely outrageous and unfounded. News of her getting kicked out of the restaurant would have still gotten out regardless and people for and against Trump would still be arguing about it anyways.
I like Secretary Sanders. She stayed dignified and did nothing wrong during that whole debacle. Always straight and to the point, a very level-headed woman.
And this is in no way equivalent to the Colorado baker refusing service to the gay couple. He offered the couple cakes of his own design, cakes he already made, he just didn’t want to design a cake catered towards a gay wedding because it went against his religious beliefs. He offered them service, he just didn’t want his artistic integrity as a baker compromised because of his religious beliefs which he values. The restaurant on the other hand just outright refused service to Secretary Sanders. It’s a double standard.
I also think It’s stupid for people who’ve never ate at the Red Hen to go on Yelp to give the restaurant 5 or 1 star reviews based on how they agree or disagree with the owner’s political beliefs. Those types of reviews don’t give an accurate review of how the restaurant operates and is a detriment to future customers who might want to eat there.
Businesses should just strictly stay apolitical, serve everyone, don’t let politics get involves, and only refuse service to people who can’t behave while at their establishment. And if a business decides to discriminate on any grounds, then let capitalism do the work and only support businesses who don’t.
As a business owner I don’t refuse service to anyone unless there is a history of nonpayment. I’m here to provide a valuable service, get paid and build my customer base, why would I want to offend any segment of the buying public?
I would do the same if your a leftist dummycrat or a lactating liberal.
I feel like a 12 years old just wrote that comment…
Oh Dave, are you hurt? Don’t feel too much there…
not at all… I’m just surprised at what is happening in USA, I’m glad I live in Canada 🙂
Btw, our strong and impervious government which I LOVE, has initiated the travel ban. So, one lousy hit against our administration to one huge accomplishment to crush the leftist pukes.
MAGA!!!
I feel that it was good that she was asked to leave. Today, it isn’t about just collecting money because she has a business to run. It is about integrity, and having some. For many people, this current administration represents a regression in our civil rights in this country. Everyone has a right to their opinion, but not if it invokes terror or divisiveness. Most people in business are smart enough to know what their brand is and what it represents. This business clearly didn’t want to be known as a supporter of this administration and many of it’s values. But there are many restaurants in this country whose business owner’s would have open their doors happily to her. I’m guessing that an active known racist wouldn’t be welcomed into a minority owned business. Simply because that business owner doesn’t need the money so badly that they are willing to sell their integrity for a few dollars. Ideally, our constitution suggest that we all should be able to go wherever we please. But we also know that our country has been a little slow to embrace all that the constitution invokes. Eventually, our country will get there. Meanwhile, you’ll have situations like this on both sides.
I feel that it was good that the old hag from the red hen showed her twat looking face and reveal that she is an elitist, so that people that know better will avoid going there. If she is so righteous, then maybe her dirty scummy restaurant should be called the blue hen.
I feel good that the witch reared her ugly head to show how nauseating it is to come dine at her restaurant. It will only propel people not to eat there. Maybe she should change the name to the blue hen.
Anyone who applauds the Red Hen owner but was all “rend their garments and there was great wailing and gnashing of teeth” over the cake bakers, should be ashamed of themselves. We can’t have it both ways, bitches. Either every business owner gets to choose who they will and will not serve, or else none do. anything else is hypocrisy.
FTR, I believe any business (except for life essential services) should be allowed to say “sorry, stay away” to anyone for any reason. Let the free market take care of them.
…You know, this isn’t good for the country in general, its increasingly, “a house divided,” increasingly. Make no mistake, unless, you are of the persuasion of the 1%, Anglo-Saxon, heterosexual, you’re under threat, period, ok.
Having said that, I feel like this is another version of the “kneeling stance against injustice” that the f-ballers have adopted. Its about what this country of (women-people of color-the poor) was built on, it’s principals that allowed this nation to flourish as it has., mostly, at the multi sacrifices of the aforementioned, not the 1%, read your history.
All of these advancements are at stake, are they not? Then it looks like to me, that was the reason it was suggested that she leave, its a measure of sacrifice-“standing up to the powers that be.”
This woman, Sarah Huckaby, is fully aware of the implications of her position, she works in defense of a dictator for all intensive purposes, have you forgotten “who” this man really is?
What he really stands for, or did you ever really know, this man in a nut-shell, intends to undo
all of the civil-laws, not that all of them are upheld anyway.
She just simply said, by way of her actions, “not in my establishment will I ever serve such.”
War, of any kind is really a bitch, because the ones waging the war (Trump) does not believe he is wrong, in his pursuits of oppression, racism, sexism, elitism… I see both sides of the coin.
I might have done the same as she did, being in her place.
Well ideally everyone could shop where they want without fear. However, if it’s ok for conservative cake makers it’s ok for us. I’m glad they are getting a taste of it for once.
Funny the article made ZERO mention of the fact that the owner proceeded to follow them out of the restaurant and over to the next restaurant they went to and continued to harass them there. That is totally uncalled for. Someone please find out the names and addresses of ALL employees that work at the red hen and make them public.
Can we ask Rosa Parks???
Will, was that supposed to be funny?
Taking the high road, turning the other cheek, being the bigger person… These things all serve a purpose and have their right place to be used… BUT SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO LET HATEFUL, ENTITLED BIGOTS KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE’S WHO CAN BE A##HOLES!!! Because they believe that they are right in their bigotry and that we are always being nice because we agree and are sucking up and want/need their approval!!! Those of you who wish the staff had been so lovely and treated her graciously and and at the end hoped she would reward their basic service with changing her vote, voice or opinion on lgbtq people??? WAKE UP!!! I am of the mindset that we need less MLK and more Malcolm X!!! I am sick and tired of being the one who is the target of discrimination BUT always expected to take the high road!!! Taking the high road is a choice!!! And I can just as easily choose to slum it on the low road where the majority seems to be totally content!!! F**k turning the other cheek unless it’s them doing the turning so I can slap the s**t out of that one too!!! If you study history you will find that at no time did the majority decide to give rights, power, equality to the minority because they decided it was the right thing to do!!! The only thing that seems to get them to respond is the minority getting fed up with being nice and letting it be known that we are ready to kick some ass, return hate with hate and burn some s**t down if necessary!!!