NEW: GOP Governor Kicked Out Of Restaurant In Her Own State, Outrage Explodes

An Arkansas restaurant is under fire after Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders was flipped off and later thrown out of the establishment while she was visiting with local activists.

Sanders visited The Croissanterie, a restaurant in Little Rock, Arkansas, for lunch with two other individuals described as “moms,” accompanied by her Arkansas State Police Executive Protection Detail. The group was seated at two tables, dined for approximately one hour and 15 minutes, paid for their meal, and tipped the staff, according to a report from Fox News.

According to a statement from Sanders’ office, after this time had passed, the restaurant owner approached a member of her security detail and requested that the governor and her party leave, stating that her presence was making employees feel threatened and uncomfortable due to her political views. The governor later addressed the incident in a public statement.

“Last week I was having lunch with two other moms at a restaurant when the owner approached a member of the State Police Executive Protection Detail and said my presence made their employees feel threatened and told us to leave,” Sanders said.

“Arkansans are known for their warm hospitality, and while that restaurant certainly doesn’t meet that standard, my administration will continue to focus on lifting Arkansans up, not tearing others down with discrimination and hate.”

The Croissanterie issued its own statement to local media and claimed that it reviewed security camera footage. The restaurant explained that it was surprised by Sanders’ arrival and initially chose not to interrupt her meal once she was seated and eating.

“By the time we entered the dining room, she was already seated and eating. At that point, we chose not to interrupt, expecting that the party would complete their meal and depart without issue,” the restaurant said. They then confirmed that the decision to ask Sanders to leave was politically motivated.

“As business owners and members of this community, we recognized that any course of action carried consequences. Allowing her to stay risked being perceived as a lack of support for the community that makes up the majority of our team, as well as their families and friends. Conversely, asking her to leave could be viewed as denying service based on differing beliefs,” the statement continued.

Regarding the departure, as Sanders and her party left, an individual reportedly made an inappropriate hand gesture (described in reports as flipping her off) in her direction. The restaurant stated this was done by a customer, not an employee, and that the matter had been addressed internally.

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