White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was asked to leave the Red Hen restaurant in Lexington, Va. because employees didn’t want to serve her, and the story dominated the political news over the weekend.
At a June 23 rally in Los Angeles, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) told supporters that the Trump administration and its defenders should expect the protests to continue:
“For these members of his Cabinet who remain and try to defend (Trump), they’re not going to be able to go to a restaurant, they’re not going to be able to stop at a gas station, they’re not going to be able to shop [at] a department store. The people are going to turn on them, they’re going to protest, they’re going to absolutely harass them,” Waters said.
Maxine Waters calls for attacks on Trump administration: "If you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd and you push back on them, and you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere." pic.twitter.com/jMV7wk48wM
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) June 24, 2018
Waters’ words were interpreted by some, including Democrats, as encouraging harassment.
The incident stimulated robust discussion on social media about whether Waters’ remarks were appropriate, whether this is what people should be focused on, and whether this was akin to adopting Trump-like tactics.
The president responded on Monday to Waters with a tweeted warning that she should be careful what she wishes for:
“Congresswoman Maxine Waters, an extraordinarily low IQ person, has become, together with Nancy Pelosi, the Face of the Democrat Party,” the president tweeted. “She has just called for harm to supporters, of which there are many, of the Make America Great Again movement. Be careful what you wish for Max!”
Trump misrepresented Waters’ comments when he said she called for his supporters to be harmed, HuffPost reported.
Waters was referring to the Trump administration’s zero tolerance policy on undocumented immigrants, which has resulted in families being separated at the U.S.-Mexico border. “We’ve got to get the children connected to their parents,” she said.
Waters’ words were criticized on both sides of the aisle. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called them “unacceptable.”
In the crucial months ahead, we must strive to make America beautiful again. Trump’s daily lack of civility has provoked responses that are predictable but unacceptable. As we go forward, we must conduct elections in a way that achieves unity from sea to shining sea. https://t.co/vlpqOBLK4R
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) June 25, 2018
The Sanders-Red Hen situation “has unearthed a growing sentiment in our society,” wrote Aaron Blake in the Washington Post, in an article entitled “Maxine Waters shows why the Sarah Huckabee Sanders-Red Hen story is extremely important”.
“It is seen in liberals and opponents of President Trump who are done with playing nice,” Blake wrote. “It is apparent as the Democratic Party gradually sheds Michelle Obama’s declaration that ‘When they go low, we go high’ and trading it for ‘We fight fire with fire.’ It is borne of frustration and a lack of results after abiding by the norms of political discourse while Trump and his allies run roughshod over all the old rules.”
I stand with @RepMaxineWaters! We need more elected Dems to fight back against this regime just as hard. You think the @GOP would ever be “civil” to a Democratic President that even broke 1/10th of the laws and norms of this admin? Wake up!
— Miriam (@miriamsohana) June 25, 2018
— Elizabeth (@catbirdseat00) June 25, 2018
Nope Nancy! I stand with Maxine! Perhaps it is time for you to step aside if that’s the type of fight you’re bringing to the game now.
— Kim (@JVaun) June 26, 2018
The problem w y’all is why we lose. These corrupt republicans stand w each other even when they kill people. She’s not advocating violence, she is saying STAND UP & FIGHT AGAINST THEIR BS! NO ONE should have to be compliant to blatant attacks on democracy. STAND TOGETHER OR MOVE. pic.twitter.com/cQnWB1RzTv
— ⚔️Kᥱᥣιᥲh⚔️ (@RealKDPFan4Eva) June 26, 2018
Really? Today, we saw a shining example of why civility doesn’t work with the SCOTUS decision. Given your track record with elections, Nancy, I’d suggest that you butt out of discussions about how to appropriately criticize policy.
— Colin Cram (@colincram) June 26, 2018
They stole a Supreme Court seat and what do we do? TALK! No action!
— Adam Pierce (@APiercea45) June 26, 2018
People cannot be expected to sit around waiting to vote. People cannot be expected to experience public shame and private sorrow in silence. Public officials should be confronted in public. Shame on you.
Thanks, @RepMaxineWaters!— Sir Ajah (@EventualAncestr) June 26, 2018
NOPE. This is why as Women of Color, of African Descent we cannot join in any white nonsense with white women who refuse to be bold and shatter white supremacy. In the end Women of Color will back each other and support and fight for one another. @RepMaxineWaters is my ELDER!!
— TrybalPastor (@TrybalDaughter) June 26, 2018
It’s disturbing to hear talk of civil war between the left and the right. There hasn’t been that since the last time republicans freed the democrats’ slaves…
— R. Jajko (@renny587984) June 26, 2018
There's a difference between calling out hateful, unlawful, vindictive behavior and policies that erode the rule of law and democracy itself and harassment for its own sake. My god, people have got to do something besides just vote. This is not normal!!!
— Christine Andrade (@CANDRA_51_61) June 26, 2018
Actually Nancy, I’d like to see you and Maxine switch positions.
— bennydiegø ✯ (@bennydiego) June 25, 2018
Nancy please read the room. Fight for us or people won’t show up to vote for Democrats.
— Payman Benz (@PaymanBenz) June 26, 2018