An Idaho coffee shop owner reports that he and his wife are facing “constant death threats” following a viral incident where they insisted pro-life groups leave their establishment and likened them to the Ku Klux Klan.
Kristan Hawkins, the president of Students for Life of America, shared a video on social media on Monday claiming that she and her group were asked to leave Wydahoe Roasters in Driggs after owner Jim Sheehan discovered they were hosting a pro-life rally.
Hawkins informed FOX News Digital that a group of around 15 gathered at the cafe to discuss future initiatives related to voting measures aimed at legalizing abortions for up to 24 weeks in Idaho, a state where such procedures are largely illegal.
Her 16-year-old son Bear, involved with Students for Life, organized the rally to recruit local volunteers. They also intended to discuss support for mothers and families in rural areas, according to Hawkins.
She said that after ordering food and drinks, Sheehan approached them and indicated they were unwelcome. Video footage captures him directing the group to gather at a public library instead.
“This is my workplace,” Sheehan stated in the video, emphasizing that he has worked hard to enable voting rights for women in Idaho. “This is something neither I nor my wife support. It’s our business. So we have that choice.”
When Hawkins inquired whether he was telling them to leave, Sheehan responded affirmatively, saying, “Did I make it clear I didn’t want you here?”
He further clarified, “If the KKK asked me to meet here, I’d say ‘no.’ In my world, it’s a similar concept.”
Sheehan contested the notion that he “kicked out” the group, explaining to Fox News Digital that the video shared online does not tell the full story. He mentioned that he had asked the group politely on Facebook a day prior to not use his business for their meeting.
“On Sunday, she announced on the community page that she was holding this conference at our business and gave her name. I responded respectfully, asking her not to use our business because her organization’s policies do not align with ours,” Sheehan stated, noting that they still showed up.
Hawkins claimed she had not seen any responses from Sheehan on social media before the gathering occurred.
In an interview, Sheehan admitted on Wednesday that the comparison he made was inappropriate, acknowledging he “didn’t think the analogy through.” He and his wife have since been on the receiving end of ongoing death threats.
He defended his right to host groups of his choice and expressed his disapproval of associating his business with a cause he vehemently opposes. “I thought they would respect my wishes and not stay there,” he expressed.
Sheehan described his coffee shop as openly liberal, featuring pride flags and hosting LGBTQ coffee gatherings. “It’s not surprising what my position is on something like that,” he noted, adding that endorsing pro-life rallies contradicts his fundamental beliefs. “This is one of those things that isn’t black and white to me,” he mentioned.
The group Students for Life claimed that Sheehan’s actions amounted to an expulsion and noted that he increased the music volume post-confrontation to hinder conversation.
Hawkins shared her surprise at the incident, stating that the community in Driggs is generally liberal, but she found her neighbors to be accepting and friendly despite political differences. “I think it was shocking to see someone who has come out of the community, who has obviously said so many times that they’re a community organization. Their rainbow flag doesn’t seem to welcome Christians or pro-lifers,” she reflected to FOX News Digital.
