Staff Reports
A bar in Washington D.C. has taken a bold stand against discrimination—by booting an employee who seemingly believed that her personal feelings trumped the basic tenets of restaurant service. Beuchert’s Saloon recently fired Suzannah Van Rooy after she declared that she would not serve any members of the incoming Trump administration. The bar’s management cited a “zero-tolerance policy on discrimination” as the reason, much to the applause of those who value customer service over political tirades.
Van Rooy had earlier told a local publication that serving individuals she deemed “trying to deport millions of people” made her feel “uncomfortable.” Not only did she refuse to serve these hypothetical customers, but her “wildly offensive responses” on social media only added fuel to the fire. Instead of keeping her political rants to a whisper among like-minded friends, she took to the digital public square, and her employer was left reeling from the fallout. The bar expressed horror at being associated with her behavior, highlighting the impact her comments had on her coworkers, who were reportedly “offended” and “horrified” by the whole debacle.
DC waitress who threatened MAGA diners gets shitcanned.https://t.co/GlM8J75T0t pic.twitter.com/JsL6xSTg4w
— Tony Seruga (@TonySeruga) December 15, 2024
While Van Rooy fancied herself a martyr of sorts, the truth is she was merely a part-time server—one of many in a bustling restaurant. In a classy move, Beuchert’s Saloon clarified that she was not a manager, deflating the notion she was some sort of authoritative figure running a one-woman resistance in the food service industry. Clearly, it’s hard to lead a revolution when you’re wearing an apron.
The bar management didn’t stop at the firing. They also urge customers to keep other employees out of their grievances, reiterating that they are still the same establishment that prides itself on its “welcoming service.” It’s a refreshing reminder that, despite the political chaos permeating every corner of the country, some businesses still prioritize serving their clients over catering to the outrage culture that seems to be growing around them.
Van Rooy’s perspective seemed to evolve from her earlier enthusiasm to fight the Trump agenda, a far cry from the fervor seen in 2016. Now, with Trump’s victory in 2024, she professed to feel a “sense of defeat and acceptance,” as if she had moved from the front lines to the couch, sipping a latte and lamenting lost political battles. Perhaps if she had spent as much time serving tables as she did airing her grievances, she wouldn’t be sporting a pink slip in the nation’s capital, where her sensibilities clearly do not align with the service industry’s expectations.
