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  • The Christian Science Monitor

    In Red Hen aftermath, a community wades through nation's vitriol

    Jun 29, 2018 7 minutes
    Locals leave signs and flowers to show their support outside the Red Hen restaurant on June 27 in Lexington. Va. The restaurant's owner asked White House press secretary Sarah Sanders to leave at the urging of her staff. The resulting blowback has rocked the college town of about 7,000.

    Until about a week ago, a visit to the Blue Phoenix Cafe and Market’s Facebook and Yelp pages left a fine impression. Patrons raved about the tasty food, the vegetarian options, and the welcoming staff. The place had a nearly five-star grade.

    Then, sometime last Saturday, bad reviews – punctuated by one-star ratings and angry memes – began to pour in. 

    “Bigots,” one commenter writes.

    “Smells like an outhouse,” according to another.

    “They are ridiculous hate-filled people. Do not go to this establishment,” warns a third.  

    The reason for the hostility sits a few blocks away on West Washington Street. The Red Hen and its owner, Stephanie Wilkinson, made national headlines after Ms. Wilkinson asked White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders to leave her restaurant Friday night. Ms. Wilkinson’s staff – a number of whom are gay – had urged her to do so, saying they were uncomfortable serving the official spokesperson for an administration that has, in their view, enacted unconscionable policies toward the LGBTQ community, immigrants, and other minority groups.

    The resulting blowback has rocked the city of Lexington, Va., population about 7,000.

    The Red Hen has not opened for business since the event. Earlier in the week,

    A town dividedBattle linesCity folks, country neighbors

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