Restaurant Owner Tells MAGA Hat-Wearers Not to Even Bother: You're Not Getting Served
Some on the left are so consumed by their hatred for President Donald Trump that they project their worst opinions of him onto his supporters and those who wear the symbol of his presidency — red “Make America Great Again” hats.
They say the hat is a symbol of bigotry, racism and xenophobia, and even suggest it’s the modern-day equivalent of the white hoods of KKK members.
Chef and restaurant owner J. Kenji Lopez-Alt of San Francisco apparently holds this extreme view.
In a since-deleted post on Twitter, the chef announced he would refuse service to anyone wearing a MAGA hat in his establishment, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
“It hasn’t happened yet, but if you come to my restaurant wearing a MAGA cap, you aren’t getting served, same as if you come in wearing a swastika, white hood, or any other symbol of intolerance and hate,” he reportedly wrote.
The tweet received an instant reaction, with some voicing support of the chef’s stance and others pushing back against the bigoted move against American citizens over differing political beliefs.
While Lopez-Alt deleted the original tweet, he has yet to delete a number of additional tweets in response to users asking questions or replying to his announced ban.
In response to a user who suggested that racist Klan members were allied with Trump supporters, Lopez-Alt tweeted, “Some of those that wear red caps, are the same that burn crosses.”
Some of those that wear red caps, are the same that burn crosses.
— J. Kenji “Individual Fun” López-Alt (@kenjilopezalt) January 27, 2019
Regarding whether kicking Trump supporters out of a restaurant was the proper course of action, Lopez-Alt revealed that his enmity wasn’t reserved solely for those who wore the hat, but also to those who don’t share his level of animus toward those people.
He tweeted, “If you’re comfortable sitting next to a MAGA wearer I’m probably not interested in serving you either.”
If you’re comfortable sitting next to a MAGA wearer I’m probably not interested in serving you either.
— J. Kenji “Individual Fun” López-Alt (@kenjilopezalt) January 27, 2019
The prohibition also extended to anybody who works in Trump’s administration. Lopez-Alt announced that he would refuse service to any administration member or “enabler” from Congress who attempted to dine in his establishment.
Yes I would refuse if I were there. If I’m not that’s up to the staff present.
— J. Kenji “Individual Fun” López-Alt (@kenjilopezalt) January 28, 2019
Finally, in response to a critic who wondered how the “Make America Great Again” phrase could be viewed as “hateful,” Lopez-Alt replied, “Who knew white hoods are so hateful? Who knew ancient symbols of peace like a swastika could be so hateful? It doesn’t matter what the symbol is. What it represents is what matters.”
Who knew white hoods are so hateful? Who knew ancient symbols of peace like a swastika could be so hateful? It doesn’t matter what the symbol is. What it represents is what matters.
— J. Kenji “Individual Fun” López-Alt (@kenjilopezalt) January 28, 2019
While there are certainly those who share the same view as Lopez-Alt, some of his customers who don’t support Trump or the hats nevertheless expressed their misgivings with the prohibitive decree when asked for comment by the Chronicle.
“I see where he’s coming from, but I don’t think you should just keep people out because of a hat,” said Jamie Hwang, who has Trump-supporting family members. “I get that idea, that maybe that hat could mean the person wearing it is just looking for a fight, but just cutting off dialogue, not giving a chance to get to know someone — I just don’t know if that’s something I would do.”
Hwang’s dining companion, Esther Shek, agreed with the owner’s view of what the MAGA hat represents but disagreed with banning MAGA hat-wearers from the restaurant.
“They already feel like they’re being demonized by what they call the liberal elite,” she said. “We shouldn’t add fire to that. Instead, it should be us creating a dialogue, leaving a space open to discuss the issues.”
Another customer named Bryan Agbayani suggested the ban would alienate potential customers. “I don’t think it matters to me about the rule, but the hat doesn’t just tell you all about the person.”
“All people are different. It’s just weird, to me, at least, that he would make it part of this business,” he added.
Agbayani’s brother, Bao, who was visiting from the Philippines, chimed in, too. “You’re discriminating against those with different political views. That’s just not OK.”
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