Stephanie Wilkinson, owner of the Red Hen restaurant in Lexington who refused to serve Sarah Sanders over the weekend because of political reason, is still feeling the fallout from her decision to discriminate against her patrons based on their affiliation with President Trump.
Since then, the Red Hen has suffered a flurry of negative reviews on Yelp, with many reviewers criticizing the establishment for their bias towards conservatives and Trump supporters. Wilkinson stated she took action against Sanders due what she called the Trump White House’s “inhumane and unethical” actions.
Wilkinson stated she was forced to close the restaurant on Saturday night due to a tremendous amount of calls and protesting taking place.
Usually, politics aren’t on the menu at the Red Hen, Wilkinson says. “I’m not a huge fan of confrontation. 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.” That business was mired firmly in controversy Saturday, with trolls of both flavors clogging the Red Hen’s Yelp page (which now has two stars), its reservation line, and even shouting from the sidewalk in Lexington. The restaurant opted not to open Saturday night, writing in an email that “We would like to avoid exposing our patrons to any potential unpleasantness from outside entities.”
This week, the Red Hen was also the site of numerous protests, where protesters waved signs, flags and chanted slogans against the restaurant’s owner for discriminating against Sarah Sanders. One protester reportedly threw chicken feces at the restaurant, proving the old adage “you get in life what you put in”, as Wilkenson’s reasons for kicking Sanders out of her establishment were absolute crap, so crap is what she received in return.
The small Virginia restaurant whose owner asked White House press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders to leave has now become the site of heated political demonstrations.
Police in Lexington had to cordon off the portion of the road in front of the Red Hen restaurant, where an estimated 75 protesters brought signs, waved flags, and chanted slogans on Tuesday.
One unidentified individual even hurled chicken feces toward the restaurant, which landed on the sidewalk.
Protesters waved Trump flags and held signs saying ‘Trump=Love,’ ‘Trump is Love,’ and ‘Red Hen needs to learn love and tolerance”, an obvious slant on the Democrats always claiming they are tolerant, yet often violently attacking anyone who disagrees with them.
These protests against the Red Hen’s owner were just the beginning of Stephanie Wilkinson’s misfortunes, however, as she announced that she was stepping down from her position as executive director with Main Street Lexington, a local business group focused on economic development and promoting the town for tourism.
Stephanie Wilkinson has chosen to resign as executive director of Main Street Lexington.
Wilkinson is the co-owner of The Red Hen restaurant in Lexington and is the person who asked White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders to leave the restaurant due to her political affiliation.
Elizabeth Outland Branner, Board President of Main Street Lexington, says she accepted the resignation of Wilkinson as the executive director of Main Street Lexington.
“Considering the events of the past weekend, Stephanie felt it best, that for the continued success of Main Street Lexington, she should step aside,” Branner states.
Main Street Lexington is a volunteer-based organization which helps to enhance and promote Downtown Lexington.
Main Street Lexington’s website states their organization “exists to enhance the economic prosperity and cultural vitality of our community, re-establishing downtown Lexington as the vibrant economic and cultural nexus of our area while maintaining its unique character.”
Perhaps it occurred to Main Street Lexington that having an Executive Director who kicks out customers at her restaurant based on political affiliations is not the best advertising for trying to entice visitors and businesses to their town.
Wilkinson told The Washington Post over the weekend that she kicked Sarah Sanders out of her restaurant for “moral reasons” that she stands by her choice and would do it again if needed.
I can’t help but wonder if Wilkinson will feel the same confidence in her decision once the consequences of her discriminatory actions are fully enacted. For now, Wilkinson joins the ranks of many celebrities, media pundits and actors who have tried to attack President Trump either directly or indirectly only to find themselves suffering negative consequences while Trump continues to win and Make America Great Again.