The opening of a politically-themed bar in Washington, DC., sparked community backlash that forced the owners to remove a Republican symbol from the building’s façade.
The owners of Political Pattie’s — Andrew Benbow and Sydney Bradford — painted over the GOP symbol shortly before its grand opening on Tuesday after online critics attacked the new bar for featuring the red elephant, along with a blue Democratic donkey, on the front of its building.
“What has been happening online to Pattie’s directly resembles what happens in society daily,” the owners, who are on opposite sides of the political aisle, said in a statement on social media.
“Our business was judged by its outside appearance before anyone ever took the chance to learn what we were about on the inside. All too often racial minorities, members of the disabled and LGBTQ communities, and others are victims of these sorts of prejudgments, which can lead to tragic outcomes.”
The local backlash questioned how the new bar — that puts the “Lit in Politics” — could operate in an area surrounded by gay bars, The Washingtonian reported.
The donkey symbol was also removed from the building, as well as the word “Political,” but the owners said they plan to replace the word in large blue font.
The pair recognized the GOP symbol was “hurtful” to the community but still clapped back at critics, calling the online vitriol “mean-spirited.”
“We view the online backlash that we’ve recently received to be mean spirited, especially considering our original and continued intent to be a space that is welcoming to ALL people, including members of the LGBTQ community,” the owners said.
“We do not tolerate homophobia, transphobia, racism or another form of bigotry. As Black Americans, anything else would be antithetical to our very existence.”
They added their establishment was meant to be a fun and inclusive environment that “pokes fun at politics, not the pain politics can often cause.”