Red Hen restaurant owner Stephanie Wilkinson resigned Tuesday from her position as Executive Director of Main Street Lexington following the controversy about her kicking White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her family out of the Red Hen Friday night during family dinner in the southwestern Virginia college town, home to Washington and Lee University.
A sign in the window of the Red Hen belies the hypocrisy of owner and staff who voted to kick Sanders out because they think she is their enemy.
Stephanie Wilkinson, publicity photo via Main Street Lexington.
The Roanoake Times reported on Wilkinson;s resignation.
“Considering the events of the past weekend, Stephanie felt it best, that for the continued success of Main Street Lexington, she should step aside,” said Elizabeth Branner, president of the Main Street Lexington Board of Directors.”
According to Sander’s father, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Wilkinson followed the Sanders family across the street after they went to another restaurant where she organized a protest against them even though Sanders and her husband went to their hotel rather than go to another restaurant.
The Times reported Wilkinson has only spoken to the Washington Post about the incident in an interview on Saturday. The Red Hen is scheduled to re-open tonight after its usual closure on Sunday and Monday.
“Wilkinson has only talked to The Washington Post, telling the newspaper that her employees notified her of Sanders’ arrival. She told the Post that Sanders worked for an “inhumane and unethical” administration.
“This feels like a moment in our democracy when people have to make uncomfortable actions and decisions to uphold their morals,” Wilkinson said.”