Idaho Coffee Shop Owner Stands by Decision to Bar Pro-Life Group, Cites Opposing Values

The owner of a northern Idaho coffee shop is defending his decision to prevent a pro-life advocacy group from holding a meeting at his establishment, saying he and his wife have endured a barrage of death threats since the confrontation went viral on social media. Jim Sheehan, proprietor of Wydaho Roasters in Driggs, said his objection stemmed from fundamental ideological differences with the group’s mission.

Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, posted video footage Monday documenting her removal from the café along with roughly 15 group members who had assembled to discuss a proposed Idaho ballot measure that would permit abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. Hawkins’ 16-year-old son Bear, a fellow with the organization, organized the gathering to mobilize local volunteers and explore ways to support families in their rural community.

Sheehan acknowledged in the video that he asked the group to leave, stating he had previously requested on Facebook that they not utilize his business for their meeting. He said Hawkins’ group ignored his social media plea and showed up anyway, prompting him to enforce the boundary in person.

During the exchange captured on video, Sheehan invoked a controversial comparison, telling the group that barring them was equivalent to refusing service to the Ku Klux Klan. In a later interview with Cowboy State Daily, he characterized this analogy as a mistake and said he had not fully considered its implications.

Sheehan emphasized that his coffee shop openly displays its liberal values through pride flags and hosts LGBTQ community meet-ups, making his political stance transparent to customers. He stated that aligning his business with pro-life advocacy would contradict his core convictions on what he views as a fundamental moral issue.

Students for Life disputed Sheehan’s characterization of events, asserting that the group members had been ejected rather than politely asked to leave. The organization also claimed that Sheehan increased the café’s music volume to prevent the group from continuing their discussion after the confrontation.

Hawkins told Fox News Digital that she and her neighbors in the predominantly liberal community of Driggs typically coexist despite political disagreements. She expressed surprise at Sheehan’s response, noting that his public messaging about welcoming all members of the community clashed with his refusal to accommodate Christians and pro-life advocates.