University investigates Trump supporters being kicked out of campus coffee shop

Fordham University is investigating an incident on campus after a video appeared to show several members of the campus College Republicans group being kicked out of an on-campus coffee shop for wearing President Trump’s famous red “Make America Great Again” hats.

In the video posted by the conservative news site Campus Reform, the self-identified president of Rodrigue’s Coffee House, which is run by a student club, tells the students that she is removing them to ensure the safety of other customers, saying that their hats violate the shop’s policies.

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“I am protecting my customers,” the president says in the video.

“We are your customers, we bought something,” replies a member of College Republicans.

“I don’t want people like you supporting this club … no one here wants people like you supporting our club,” the president responds. “I am giving you five minutes.”

In later comments in the video, the woman can be heard telling the club members that their hats “violate safe space policy.”

“You are threatening the integrity of our club. This is a community standard — you are wearing hats that completely violate safe space policy,” she said. “You have to take it off or you have to go.”

A flier obtained by the College Republicans somewhat outlines the rule, explaining the shop’s policy against “racism,” “homophobia” and “sexism.” The rule appears to be that of the club, rather than the college.

“Be aware of the boundaries of others’ space, physical or otherwise, and respect their consent. No racism – No sexism – No homophobia. If you feel that someone has transgressed this policy, we want you to feel comfortable confronting them or approaching a member behind the counter, who is available as a resource to assist you,” the flier reads.

A member of the College Republicans blasted the university for allowing the club to discriminate based on political views in on-campus facilities.

Fordham University issued a statement on Saturday to The Hill, saying that the university has no campus-wide safe space policy and that the video amounted to a “dispute between students.” The school also indicated that it is investigating the incident.

“There is no University safe space policy, nor one that excludes any members of the Fordham community from any public spaces on the basis of their political views. Fordham is a community that values diverse opinions, and in which students should disagree with one another in a civil fashion,” Fordham assistant vice president Bob Howe wrote in an email. 

“The University is still investigating the incident, and students who may have violated the University code of conduct will be met with the appropriate student conduct process.”

Updated: 2:38 p.m.