Red Hen restaurant controversy

Last updated

The Red Hen restaurant at 11 East Washington Street in downtown Lexington, Virginia. The Red Hen restaurant 11 East Washington Street downtown Lexington VA April 2023.jpg
The Red Hen restaurant at 11 East Washington Street in downtown Lexington, Virginia.

On June 22, 2018, a co-owner of The Red Hen restaurant in Lexington, Virginia, asked Sarah Huckabee Sanders, then the White House press secretary, to leave. The co-owner later cited Sanders' role in what they called the "inhumane and unethical" Trump administration in which Sanders had "publicly defended the president's cruelest policies." The Red Hen plans to cease operations at the end of December 2023 and rebrand as a new concept. [1]

Contents

Precipitating incident

The Red Hen was a "tiny farm-to-table restaurant" with 26 seats almost 200 miles (320 km) from Washington, D.C., in Lexington, Virginia. [2] At about 8:00 pm on Friday, June 22, 2018, The Red Hen's chef telephoned the restaurant's co-owner Stephanie Wilkinson to report that Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary had entered the restaurant to dine with a group of about eight people. [2] Wilkinson told The Washington Post that, after conferring with her employees, she told Sanders that the restaurant upholds standards "such as honesty, and compassion, and cooperation" and asked Sanders to leave, which Sanders did. [2] Wilkinson related that the other people at Sanders' table had been served appetizers and were invited to stay, but they also left, Wilkinson saying their appetizers were on the house. [2] In the morning press briefing of Monday, June 25, Sanders said that she and her husband went home. [3]

Political and journalistic responses

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was at the center of the controversy SarahHuckabeeSanders.jpg
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was at the center of the controversy

Restaurant co-owner

A June 25 Washington Post article quoted restaurant co-owner Stephanie Wilkinson as saying she was "not a huge fan of confrontation" and wanted her business to thrive but that this felt like "the moment in our democracy when people have to make uncomfortable actions and decisions to uphold their morals." [2] Wilkinson explained that she believed Sanders—significantly, a public official—served in an "inhumane and unethical" administration and "publicly defended the president's cruelest policies." [2]

Trump administration

After a server made a social media post that caused wider media attention, at 10:53am the next day (Saturday, June 23), Sanders tweeted, "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." [4] In the press briefing of Monday, June 25, Sanders spoke out against "hate and vandalism" against the restaurant and also said that "calls for harassment and push for any Trump supporter to avoid the public is unacceptable." [3] On about August 2, in the context of her accusation that the press verbally assaults the president and members of his administration, Sanders said that as far as she knew, she is "the first press secretary in the history of the United States that's required Secret Service protection." [5]

At 7:41am on Monday, June 25, President Donald Trump tweeted that the restaurant should focus more on cleaning its "filthy canopies, doors and windows (badly needs a paint job) rather than refusing to serve a fine person like Sarah Huckabee Sanders," adding that "I always had a rule, if a restaurant is dirty on the outside, it is dirty on the inside!" [6] (Virginia health department records show the restaurant "easily passed its most recent inspections." [7] )

After comments made by Congresswoman Maxine Waters calling for her supporters to confront Trump Cabinet officials in public spaces like restaurants, President Trump responded on Twitter by saying, "Congresswoman Maxine Waters, an extraordinarily low IQ person, has become, together with Nancy Pelosi, the Face of the Democrat Party. She has just called for harm to supporters, of which there are many, of the Make America Great Again movement. Be careful what you wish for Max!" [8]

Other political and journalistic responses

Following the incident, Congresswoman Maxine Waters encouraged her supporters to act similarly, saying, "Let's make sure we show up wherever we have to show up. And if you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd. And you push back on them. And you tell them they're not welcome anymore, anywhere" [9] and "For these members of his Cabinet who remain and try to defend [Trump], they're not going to be able to go to a restaurant, they're not going to be able to stop at a gas station, they're not going to be able to shop [at] a department store. The people are going to turn on them, they're going to protest, they're going to absolutely harass them." [10]

House Minority Leader and fellow Democrat Nancy Pelosi publicly disagreed with Waters' statements regarding harassing Trump administration officials, calling this "unacceptable" and calling for civility, saying, "we must strive to make America beautiful again." [11]

The controversy caused numerous commentators to write on the issue of civility toward political figures. [12] Karl J. Salzmann wrote in The National Review that "in the absence of civility, democracy becomes mob rule" and that "without civility we turn toward chaos, anarchy, and ultimately constitutional perdition." [13] In contrast, Professor Gerald Postema distinguished political implications from moral considerations, writing that "we must resist rushing to the judgment of incivility. Norms of civility can be oppressive, a potent means of muzzling legitimate demands of accountability. Civility should not rule out vigorous articulation of one's moral views." [14]

On June 23, 2018, Walter Shaub, past director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics under Presidents Obama and Trump (through July 2017), wrote that Sanders' tweet on the same day violated federal law [15] pertaining to Standards of Ethical Conduct and Misuse of Position. [16] Shaub wrote that Sanders used her official government Twitter account, having three million followers, "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." [16] In the press briefing of Monday, June 25, Sanders said that over a dozen reporters had contacted her and that multiple news stories had already been issued, so she considered it to be "news of the day" to which she responded on her official government Twitter account. [3]

Some commentators perceived a parallel between the Red Hen incident and the facts underlying the Supreme Court's June 4, 2018, Masterpiece Cakeshop decision, ruling in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to make a custom wedding cake for a gay couple based on the baker's religious opposition to their marriage. [17] However, in contrast to the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, and color, Virginia state law does not provide that political affiliation is a protected trait against discrimination. [17]

Subsequent occurrences

The restaurant's Yelp page was quickly flooded with mostly one- and five-star reviews created by opponents and supporters of Wilkinson's action. [18] As of June 25, Yelp was actively monitoring the listing and deleting postings that were perceived as being motivated "by the news coverage itself [rather] than [by] the reviewer's personal consumer experience with the business." [19]

Fortune magazine reported that, as a result of a tweet by Donald Trump, an unaffiliated District of Columbia restaurant with the same name was targeted by conservatives with negative Yelp reviews and denunciations on Twitter. [20] [21] Other unaffiliated restaurants with the same name in Swedesboro, New Jersey and Old Saybrook, Connecticut, as well as against the Olde Red Hen in Ontario and the Little Red Hen in Muntinlupa, the Philippines, were similarly targeted with negative reviews and criticism on Twitter. [22]

Supporters and opponents demonstrated outside the restaurant on June 26, resulting in one arrest and the closure of the street in front of the business for two hours. [23] The restaurant remained closed for almost two weeks after the incident, experiencing a protest on its July 9 re-opening [12] but receiving an increase in business in succeeding days. [24]

By June 27, the URL of the restaurant's website had been redirected to a site selling erectile dysfunction medication, [25] a Malwarebytes security specialist indicating that the redirect was likely from scammers seeking to "capitalize on heightened internet traffic to the website because of the headlines" rather than for political purposes. [26]

It was reported on June 26 that Sanders was to receive temporary Secret Service protection at her home, [27] protection that Sanders confirmed on about August 2. [5]

On September 2, The Roanoke Times reported that the Rockbridge Regional Tourism Board had agreed to spend $5,000 monthly from July through September to increase positive digital marketing in response to negative national media coverage after the incident. [28] The money was taken from an emergency fund comprising about 20% ($160,000) of its $800,000 overall annual budget. [28]

In May 2019, co-owner Stephanie Wilkinson wrote in The Washington Post that the restaurant had been receiving hate mail for nearly a year, but "[f]or every hateful message, there was one of gratitude." She reported that "business is still good," and "to everyone who might be fearful about taking a stand, I say don't be. Resistance is not futile, for you or your business." [29]

In November 2023, the restaurant's owners announced that the Red Hen would cease operations at the end of the year and reopen in early 2024 under a new name. [30]

Similar incidents

The incident ignited a political debate about civility, invoking comparisons to similar incidents. [12] Commentators referenced the 2012 Masterpiece Cakeshop incident in which a Colorado baker refused to make a custom wedding cake for a gay couple, [17] the 2012 Crumb and Get It bakery incident in which a Virginia baker declined to host a campaign media event for then-Vice President Joe Biden, [12] and the 2015 refusal by county clerk Kim Davis to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple in Kentucky. [31]

On November 30, 2022, a restaurant in Richmond, Virginia canceled an event reserved by Family Foundation of Virginia, a faith-based nonprofit that opposed the Respect for Marriage Act." [32]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lexington, Virginia</span> Independent city in Virginia, United States

Lexington is an independent city in Virginia, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 7,320. It is the county seat of Rockbridge County, although the two are separate jurisdictions, and is combined with it for statistical purposes by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Lexington is about 57 miles (92 km) east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles (80 km) north of Roanoke, Virginia. First settled in 1778, Lexington is best known as the home of the Virginia Military Institute and Washington and Lee University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxine Waters</span> American politician (born 1938)

Maxine Moore Waters is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for California's 43rd congressional district since 1991. The district, numbered as the 29th district from 1991 to 1993 and as the 35th district from 1993 to 2013, includes much of southern Los Angeles, as well as portions of Gardena, Inglewood and Torrance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Acosta</span> American broadcast journalist

Abilio James Acosta is an American broadcast journalist, anchor and the chief domestic correspondent for CNN. Previously, Acosta served as the network's chief White House correspondent during the Trump administration, in which he gained national attention for President Donald Trump's clashes with him at press briefings. Acosta also covered the Obama administration as CNN's senior White House correspondent. As Trump was about to leave office, it was announced on January 11, 2021 that Acosta had been appointed Anchor and Chief Domestic Correspondent for CNN.

Threatening the government officials of the United States is a felony under federal law. Threatening the president of the United States is a felony under 18 U.S.C. § 871, punishable by up to 5 years of imprisonment, that is investigated by the United States Secret Service. Threatening other officials is a Class D or C felony, usually carrying maximum penalties of 5 or 10 years under 18 U.S.C. § 875, 18 U.S.C. § 876 and other statutes, that is investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. When national boundaries are transcended by such a threat, it is considered a terrorist threat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Democratic National Convention</span> Presidential nominating convention

The 2016 Democratic National Convention was a presidential nominating convention, held at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from July 25 to 28, 2016. The convention gathered delegates of the Democratic Party, the majority of them elected through a preceding series of primaries and caucuses, to nominate a candidate for president and vice president in the 2016 United States presidential election. Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was chosen as the party's nominee for president by a 54% majority of delegates present at the convention roll call securing it over primary rival Senator Bernie Sanders, who received 46% of votes from delegates, and becoming the first female candidate to be formally nominated for president by a major political party in the United States. Her running mate, Senator Tim Kaine from Virginia, was confirmed by delegates as the party's nominee for vice president by acclamation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michelle Wolf</span> American comedian

Michelle Wolf is an American comedian, writer, producer, and television host. She worked as a contributor and writer for Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. She spoke as the featured performer at the 2018 White House Correspondents' Dinner. She hosted the Netflix comedy talk show series The Break with Michelle Wolf and performed in the 2019 stand-up comedy special Joke Show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes Schlapp</span> American lobbyist & columnist (born 1972)

Mercedes Schlapp is an American communications specialist and political commentator for both English and Spanish media. She has served in two presidential administrations as director of specialty media under George W. Bush and as White House Director of Strategic Communications in the Trump administration from September 2017 to July 2019. She went on to work on the Trump 2020 re-election campaign as senior advisor for strategic communications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Racial views of Donald Trump</span> Review of the racial opinions of Donald Trump

Donald Trump, former president of the United States, has a history of speech and actions that have been viewed by scholars and the public as racist or white supremacist. Journalists, friends, family, and former employees have accused him of fueling racism in the United States. Trump has repeatedly denied accusations of racism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kayleigh McEnany</span> American political commentator and author (born 1988)

Kayleigh McEnany is an American conservative political commentator, television journalist, and writer who served the administration of Donald Trump as the 33rd White House press secretary from April 2020 to January 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Huckabee Sanders</span> Governor of Arkansas since 2023

Sarah Elizabeth Huckabee Sanders is an American politician serving since 2023 as the 47th governor of Arkansas. Sanders is the daughter of Mike Huckabee, who served from 1996 to 2007 as Arkansas's 44th governor. A member of the Republican Party, she was the 31st White House press secretary, serving under President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2019. Sanders was the third woman to be White House press secretary. She also served as a senior advisor on Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Sanders became the Republican nominee in the 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial election and won, defeating Democratic nominee Chris Jones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Karem</span> American journalist, political analyst

Brian James Karem is White House correspondent for Playboy and political analyst for CNN. He also hosts the "Just Ask The Question" podcast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 State of the Union Address</span> Speech by US president Donald Trump

The 2018 State of the Union Address was given by the 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump, on January 30, 2018, at 9:00 p.m. EST, in the chamber of the United States House of Representatives to the 115th United States Congress. It was Trump's first State of the Union Address and his second speech to a joint session of the United States Congress. Presiding over this joint session was the House speaker, Paul Ryan, accompanied by Mike Pence, the vice president, in his capacity as the president of the Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trump derangement syndrome</span> Neologism describing a reaction to Donald Trumps statements

Trump derangement syndrome (TDS) is a pejorative term, usually for criticism or negative reactions to former United States president Donald Trump that are perceived to be irrational, and presumed to have little regard towards Trump's actual policy positions, or actions undertaken by his administration. The term has mainly been used by Trump supporters to discredit criticism of his actions, as a way of reframing the discussion by suggesting that his opponents are incapable of accurately perceiving the world. Journalists have used the term to call for restraint when judging Trump's statements and actions.

John Moore is an American photographer. He works for Getty images among others. His work has received several awards, including a Pulitzer Prize in 2005. His photograph of a two-year-old girl, crying as US Border Patrol officers begin to search her mother prior to taking both of them into custody for illegally crossing the US-Mexican border, was named World Press Photo 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crumb and Get It bakery incident</span>

In the Crumb and Get It bakery incident, a bakery owner in Radford, Virginia, declined to host a campaign event for then-Vice President Joe Biden, citing political differences. The incident sparked significant media coverage and a surge in business for the bakery. The baker was invited to introduce Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan at a political rally the following week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omar Navarro</span> American perennial candidate

Omar Navarro is an American perennial candidate for the seat of California's 43rd congressional district against longtime Democratic congresswoman Maxine Waters. A member of the Republican Party, Navarro ran unsuccessfully against Waters in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Arkansas gubernatorial election</span> Election to replace Asa Hutchinson

The 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Arkansas. Incumbent governor Asa Hutchinson was term-limited and could not seek a third term. Republican Sarah Huckabee Sanders, daughter of former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, defeated Democrat Chris Jones to become the first woman ever elected to the office, and was sworn in on January 10, 2023.

Paula Reid is an American journalist and attorney who is the CNN chief legal affairs correspondent. She joined CNN in March 2021 after working at CBS News. She is based in Washington, D.C.

Alice Butler-Short was the founder of Virginia Women for Trump, an American advocacy group supportive of former American president Donald Trump.

References

  1. "Red Hen To Close,". The News-Gazette. November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Selk, Avi; Murray, Sarah (June 25, 2018). "The owner of the Red Hen explains why she asked Sarah Huckabee Sanders to leave". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 4, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Reiss, Jaclyn (June 25, 2018). "Here's how Sarah Sanders addressed being kicked out of a restaurant during her press briefing today". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on June 26, 2018.
  4. Watson, Kathryn (June 23, 2018). "Sarah Sanders says she was asked to leave restaurant because she works for Trump". CBS News. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  5. 1 2 Guardian staff and agencies (August 2, 2018). "'Enemy of the people': Sanders refuses to disavow Trump's claim about media". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 3, 2018. Includes video of press briefing.
  6. Higgins, Tucker (June 25, 2018). "Trump slams Red Hen for being 'filthy.' Inspectors found no violations but Mar-a-Lago was cited 78 times in three years". CNBC. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018.
  7. Prignano, Christina (June 25, 2018). "Contrary to Trump's tweet, the Red Hen breezed through its last health inspection". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018.
  8. Manchester, Julia (June 18, 2018). "Maxine Waters calls on supporters to confront Trump officials in public spaces". The Hill.
  9. Calfas, Jennifer (June 25, 2018). "They're Not Welcome Anymore, Anywhere.' Maxine Waters Tells Supporters to Confront Trump Officials". Time. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  10. Blake, Aaron (June 25, 2018). "Maxine Waters shows why the Sarah Huckabee Sanders-Red Hen story is extremely important". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  11. Price, Greg (June 25, 2018). "Nancy Pelosi Calls Maxine Waters's Comments 'Unacceptable' After Cry to Harass Donald Trump Officials". Newsweek. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Touchberry, Ramsey (July 6, 2018). "Sarah Huckabee Sanders service refusal compared to racial segregation as protests greet Red Hen opening". Newsweek. Archived from the original on July 8, 2018.
  13. Salzmann, Karl J. (July 10, 2018). "The Civility Wars". The National Review. Archived from the original on August 11, 2018.
  14. Postema, Gerald J. (July 16, 2018). "Is being incivil a morally justifiable choice?". The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on July 17, 2018.
  15. "Electronic Code of Federal Regulations / PART 2635—Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch / Subpart G—Misuse of Position / §2635.702 Use of public office for private gain". Government Publishing Office. June 21, 2018. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018.
  16. 1 2 Oppenheim, Maya (June 24, 2018). "Sarah Sanders tweet about being kicked out of restaurant violates law, former White House ethics chief says". The Independent. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018.
  17. 1 2 3 Rao, Sonia (June 25, 2018). "Did the Red Hen violate Sarah Huckabee Sanders's rights when it kicked her out?". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 29, 2018.
  18. "Restaurant gets Yelp-bombed for asking Sarah Sanders to leave". CNET. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  19. "Red Hen Yelp listing hit by protests". BBC News. June 25, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  20. Price, Emily (June 25, 2018). "Trump Supporters Are Attacking the Wrong Red Hen Restaurant". Fortune . Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  21. Morris, Chris (June 25, 2018). "Conservative Activists Call for Yelp Attack on Restaurant That Turned Away Sarah Huckabee Sanders". Fortune . Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  22. Gibson, Kate (June 26, 2018). "Red Hen restaurants everywhere feel ramifications of Sanders incident". cbsnews.com. CBS News . Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  23. Amy, Friedenberger (June 26, 2018). "Protesters gather outside Red Hen restaurant as owner steps down as director of Main Street Lexington". Roanoke Times . Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  24. Rao, Sonia (July 10, 2018). "Red Hen finds kicking out Sarah Sanders draws customers". The Star. Toronto. Archived from the original on July 10, 2018.
  25. Jason, Murdock (June 27, 2018). "Has the Red Hen website been hacked?". Newsweek . Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  26. Fazzini, Kate (June 28, 2018). "The Red Hen restaurant that refused to serve Sarah Sanders was hit by a cyberattack". CNBC . Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  27. Zhao, Christina (June 27, 2018). "Does Sarah Huckabee Sanders Need Secret Service Protection?". Newsweek. Archived from the original on June 27, 2018. Wednesday Newsweek article said NBC reported it on Tuesday.
  28. 1 2 Graham, Alison (September 2, 2018). "Lexington-area tourism group beefs up marketing in wake of Red Hen controversy". The Roanoke Times. Archived from the original on September 4, 2018.
  29. Wilkinson, Stephanie (May 14, 2019). "I own the Red Hen restaurant that asked Sarah Sanders to leave. Resistance isn't futile". The Washington Post.
  30. "Red Hen to Close". The Lexington News-Gazette. November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  31. Dvorak, Petula (The Washington Post) (June 26, 2018). "It's OK to hate Trump staffers, but let them eat their cake (and cheese plate)". The Hamilton Spectator. Archived from the original on July 7, 2018.
  32. Jennings, Lisa (December 5, 2022). "Virginia restaurant prompts dustup after canceling event for anti-same-sex-marriage group". Restaurant Business. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023.