Coffee shop owner says he's facing 'nonstop death threats' after comparing pro-lifers to KKK
A coffee shop owner says he's been inundated with "nonstop death threats" after likening pro-life advocates to the KKK and ordering a group to leave his business to hold their meeting elsewhere.
Students for Life President Kristan Hawkins, her four children and roughly 10 other local pro-life activists were ejected from Wydaho Roasters, a coffee shop in Driggs, Idaho, owned by Jim Sheehan, last Monday night, when the owner went on a rant after learning about the group's meeting at his store, according to Cowboy State Daily.
The group had gathered to launch a new local pro-life effort, "Abortion Free Teton Valley," part of Students for Life's Campaign for Abortion Free Cities, which was founded and is led by Hawkins' 16-year-old son, Bear, according to Students for Life of America.
In the Aug. 17 video shared by Hawkins, the owner of Wydaho Roasters told the group that “everybody is welcome, but I said I don't want this group meeting here.”
When Hawkins informed him it was only for the group’s first meeting, Sheehan said, “I don't care, go to the public library. ... This is my place of business!”
After she mentioned the group had already placed a food order, he appeared to initially relent, saying, “That’s fine.”
“But you’re kicking us out? ...” Hawkins asked.
Sheehan, who became visibly agitated, replied, “Didn't I make it very clear that I did not want you here? ... I did a lot of work to get people on the ballot so women would have the right to choose from the state of Idaho and this is something I do not support, nor does my wife, and it's our business. So we have that choice."
When Hawkins once again sought to clarify whether they were kicked out, Sheehan added, “It's like if the KKK asked to meet here, I would say no.”
"So you think pro-lifers are like the KKK?" asked Hawkins.
"In my world, it's the same sort of concept,” he replied.
In a statement shared through Students for Life, Hawkins said the meeting marked the first of the organization’s “Abortion Free Teton Valley” group.
“Our goal was discussion how to bring more free services to hurting families in our community and educate voters about the late-term abortion referendum on the Idaho ballot this November,” said Hawkins. “Not only is it offensive to be compared to the KKK, it’s insane to say that those who want to protect babies of every race, creed, and color have anything in common with that hateful organization.
“When it comes to groups tied to the KKK, take a look at Planned Parenthood and the racist, eugenics agenda that it was founded on. We may have had to move our meeting, but we won’t abandon our passion for babies and their moms.”
The Christian Post reached out to Sheehan for comment Friday. Sheehan told Cowboy State Daily that the coffee shop, which proudly flies the LGBT pride flag, has received “nonstop death threats” since the video went viral. He also described himself as “openly liberal” but stopped short of calling himself pro-abortion.
Both Sheehan and Hawkins have since publicly condemned the threats of violence that followed the video going viral, according to KIFI/LocalNews8, which reported that both sides have called for calm and mutual respect in the aftermath of the confrontation.
According to Wydaho Roasters’ Facebook page, the coffee shop hosted a meet-and-greet with Idaho independent gubernatorial candidate John Stegner last Friday.
CP also reached out to Stegner's campaign for comment.
In an earlier social media post recounting the incident, Hawkins noted the irony of being compared to the KKK, writing, "Planned Parenthood's founder, Margaret Sanger, spoke for the KKK."
Sheehan has disputed the characterization that he "kicked out" the group, telling Fox News Digital that the video posted online was misleading. He said that a day before the meeting, Hawkins had announced on a local community Facebook page that the group planned to hold its gathering at his business, and that he had responded by "politely asking them not to use our business" for the meeting.
Hawkins told Fox News Digital that she and her group had not seen Sheehan's reply before arriving.
LifeNews reported that no one in the group wore political clothing or carried signs, aside from one person wearing a white hat with the initials "CK" for Charlie Kirk.
Ian M. Giatti is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ian.giatti@christianpost.com.
