Posted on 08/19/2026 10:28:39 AM PDT by Morgana
The owner of a local coffee shop ordered a group of pro-life advocates to leave after comparing them to the Ku Klux Klan.
According to video of the encounter, Jim Sheehan, owner of Wydaho Roasters Coffee House, approached members of the Campaign for Abortion Free Cities as they sat with drinks they had purchased and began their first meeting to organize an “Abortion Free Teton Valley” effort.
No one in the group wore political clothing or carried signs, aside from one person in a white hat with the initials “CK” for Charlie Kirk.
Sheehan told the group he did not want them meeting there.
“Everybody is welcome, but I don’t want this group meeting here,” he said.
When Kristan Hawkins, CEO of Students for Life of America and Pro-Life Generation, explained they were holding their first meeting.
Sheehan replied, “I don’t care, go to the public library.”
Hawkins noted the group had already bought food and drinks.
Sheehan continued: “I did a lot of work to get people on the ballot so women would have the right to choose in 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 pressed on whether he was kicking them out, Sheehan compared the pro-life gathering to the KKK.
“It’s like, if the KKK asked to meet here, I would say no,” he said.
Hawkins asked if he viewed pro-lifers as similar to the KKK.
Sheehan answered, “In my world, it’s the same sort of concept.”
Hawkins later said: “They compared US to the KKK … even though Planned Parenthood’s founder, Margaret Sanger, spoke for the KKK. We paid for our food. We weren’t protesting or disrupting anyone. We were simply sitting together having a peaceful conversation. We were kicked out because we’re pro-life and work to protect babies.”
The coffee shop displayed a lawn sign reading “EVERYONE WELCOME” and had previously hosted a meet-and-greet for a Democratic Socialists of America candidate as well as a vigil for two left-wing activists killed while protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
In a response to media inquiries, Sheehan said the group was not kicked out and claimed the video was selectively edited. He stated he had asked them the day before not to hold the meeting at the shop because he did not align with their agenda.
“I asked them to find another place to hold their meeting,” he said, adding that they ignored the request.
The incident prompted public criticism, with some customers leaving negative reviews and saying they would no longer patronize the business.
Hawkins said the group would continue its advocacy: “We aren’t backing down. The backlash only reminds us that we’re making an impact. We will keep showing up. We will keep speaking the truth. And we will keep fighting for Life.”
Ha! Everyone welcome ... except Christians.
Biblical.
Remember when real newspapers would open an article with the specific location of the news: city and maybe state, followed by a dash, and then begin the story?
Web articles would do well to follow that convention. I should not have to read deep in the story to find out than it is in Idaho.
Oops. I didn’t see the small grey strip at the top, that included location of Driggs, ID. Good job, Life Site News.
Anyone who doesn’t conform to the humanist state religion must be purged in their view.
“Everybody is welcome, but...”
But not everybody is welcome.
He made an unforced error. He will lose quite a lot of business. He may gain some from the other side, but I predict a net negative.
Um ... okay?
Sounds like the clowns running the “coffee shop” aren’t very bright. Bigots too.
He made an unforced error.
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I’m glad he did.
Jim Sheehan, owner of Wydaho Roasters Coffee House, is located in Driggs, Idaho, within the Teton Valley. The business operates from a location at 465 S Main St #2 in downtown Driggs.
“Everybody is welcome, but I don’t want this group meeting here,” he said. Kind of contradicting yourself aren’t you Jim?
I would want to know that I’m not welcome in a coffee shop or restaurant. That would be better than having them spit in my coffee or food.
I’m for the first amendment, but
What in the actual F is wrong we these scumbags.
They put value on a puppy than a human pre born baby!!!
Pissing off half your potential market in a town of 2000? Not sure enough libs from Jackson Hole will drive through the mountains to make up for that.
I’m on the fence with this one... I would never go into someone elses establishment and start carrying on about my beliefs with a group I brought in. And obviously loud enough for the owner to hear it.
Nah... I’ll sit this one out. I dont think the pro lifers were in the right here.
“I would want to know that I’m not welcome in a coffee shop or restaurant. That would be better than having them spit in my coffee or food.”
True and these people are the types that would do it.
Cognitive dissonance much?
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