Server Fired for Refusing to Serve Trump Officials
A restaurant server at Beuchert’s Saloon in Washington, D.C., was terminated after publicly stating her refusal to serve certain officials from the Trump administration.
Suzannah Van Rooy made her comments during an interview, where she cited personal moral objections to some officials’ actions, accusing them of involvement in serious issues like sex trafficking and mass deportations.
“I personally would refuse to serve any person in office who I know of as being a sex trafficker or trying to deport millions of people,” Van Rooy told Washingtonian this week. “It’s not, ‘Oh, we hate Republicans.’ It’s that this person has moral convictions that are strongly opposed to mine, and I don’t feel comfortable serving them.”
“People were a lot more motivated the first time around to do those kinds of shows of passion. This time around, there is kind of a sense of defeat and acceptance,” Van Rooy continued. “But I hope that people still do stand up to this administration and tell them their thoughts on their misbehavior.”
Van Rooy’s remarks were part of a larger discussion regarding potential local resistance to members of the Trump administration in public spaces. This exchange referenced earlier incidents where Trump officials faced public confrontations while dining out. Beuchert’s Saloon swiftly condemned Van Rooy’s statements, labeling them “reprehensible,” and reiterated their commitment to a “zero-tolerance policy on discrimination” in a statement to Fox News.
In an effort to distance itself from her remarks, the restaurant clarified that Van Rooy, a part-time employee, did not represent the establishment in her comments. Following a backlash from the public, Beuchert’s Saloon issued a statement highlighting their dedication to providing a welcoming environment for all patrons, irrespective of political affiliation.
“Recent comments made by a member of staff who had no authority to speak on behalf of our entire restaurant have been, quite rightly, flagged as inappropriate, hostile, intolerant, and unacceptable. This staff member does NOT speak for us as a restaurant,” Beuchert’s Thursday statement said.
“After the inauguration in January, we will begin serving our fourth administration as a neighborhood restaurant on Capitol Hill open to all and welcoming to all. We have always been a safe space for all. Everyone, especially anyone who feels prejudged or misunderstood, will always find friendly service and a sympathetic ear at Beuchert’s Saloon. Again, we deeply apologize for the comments made by a member of staff. They are NOT representative of our restaurant and do not reflect how we operate as a business, and how proud we are to be a gathering place on Capitol Hill,” the restaurant’s statement continued.
However, on Friday, the restaurant announced their decision to let Van Rooy go from their establishment for her “unforgivable” behavior.
“Not only do Ms. Van Rooy’s comments clearly violate our zero-tolerance policy on discrimination, but her decision to sign into our social media accounts in the middle of the night to post her own rhetoric in wildly offensive responses to comments is a further breach of conduct and protocol. She has no authority to speak on our behalf, and her comments do not reflect the positions of over twenty other people who make up our staff,” the Friday statement read.
“For these reasons as well as the sheer dismay and disgust we feel at her unforgivable behavior, Ms. Van Rooy has been dismissed immediately. Our staff and families (many of whom are personally offended by Ms. Van Rooy’s comments about them) are still reeling from what Ms. Van Rooy said and did, and we as a restaurant are simply horrified to be associated with base prejudice.”
Van Rooy’s LinkedIn profile, which has since been removed, featured a background in hospitality management and a history of political engagement, including involvement in the campaign of Texas Democrat Beto O’Rourke. She was also noted for having accessed the restaurant’s social media accounts without authorization to voice her opinions, a move that the establishment deemed unacceptable and contrary to their operational policies.
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