CARLSBAD, Calif. — Members of the group MAGA People said that during their meeting at Urban Plates in Carlsbad Thursday night an employee asked them to put away their MAGA sign away because it was making guests uncomfortable.
The group’s organizer did not comply and refused to remove the sign.
A man by the name Bill said members of the group were talking peacefully over dinner, not making a scene or doing anything wrong.
“They asked us to remove the sign and of course we questioned why. Most of us, I believe, were over 50 or 60. We were kind of a senior citizens group. We are more like a bingo group,” he said.
Bill said the sign was visibly located because it was the group’s first meeting and members did not know each other. According to Bill, the organizer made the big sign so people would know where to meet.
Bill said the new Meetup group was formed earlier this month with people from across the county, but many opted not to be photographed for fear of discrimination from their employers.
Bill said the group had important issues to discuss like the 50th Congressional District race and the president’s 2020 reelection campaign.
“I'm a supporter. I realize he's not a perfect person, but I think he's doing a great job. If you don't like him, I respect that, but we still have the right to meet,” he said.
Bill said the organizer is hoping to get a private room for the group's next meeting.
In a statement Urban Plates said:
"Urban Plates does not choose, or refuse, to do business with groups based upon their political or religious ideologies or affiliations. We are in the business of hospitality, providing wholesome meals in a comfortable, familial environment, and have no bearing on who participates with groups that choose to dine with us. Acceptance of business does not indicate support, or endorsement of any group or individual. As a matter of guest privacy we do not discuss details of our guests or the groups with whom we do business."