Idaho coffee shop owner defends ejecting pro-life group from his business after backlash
An Idaho coffee shop owner in Driggs has defended his decision to eject a pro-life advocacy group from his premises, saying he and his wife have since received "nonstop death threats" after footage of the confrontation went viral. The row began when Students for Life of America president Kristan Hawkins said she and colleagues were told to leave the coffee shop because the owner objected to their presence, sparking a wider debate over free expression, business owners' rights, and the treatment of activists in commercial spaces.
The incident escalated rapidly online, with the confrontation clip drawing widespread attention and prompting a fierce backlash against the shop's owner. He maintains his stance on removing the group despite the abuse he says has followed, while Hawkins has publicly described being forced out of the venue. The episode has become a flashpoint in the broader culture-war debate over abortion politics and how businesses navigate serving customers with contentious political affiliations.
- Idaho coffee shop owner ejected pro-life group Students for Life from his shop.
- Video went viral; owner says he now faces death threats.
- Incident fuels debate over free speech and business owners' rights.