A Democratic Georgia gubernatorial candidate, Keisha Lance Bottoms, is putting left-wing hypocrisy on full display by trying to cancel a black-owned business for daring to serve a Republican. Bottoms, who formerly served as the mayor of Atlanta, joined calls being made online to boycott Toast on Lenox, a popular local restaurant owned by a black woman, after it welcomed gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson.
Instead of being consistent in her leftist values and supporting a minority-owned business, Bottoms threw gas on the fire, amplifying the backlash against the restaurant, pointing out the “online chatter” concerning Jackson’s visit to the business. While she didn’t name drop the establishment, Bottoms issued a grave warning to anyone who welcomes Jackson, saying they have “made a calculated decision based on the benefits and the risks of doing that.”
Garrison Douglas, a spokesman for Jackson’s campaign, slammed Bottoms for her comments, highlighting her record during the COVID pandemic in a press release that was sent to The Daily Caller. “Around 100 small businesses shuttered in Atlanta because of Keisha Lance Bottoms’ COVID policies, and now she wants to cancel Georgia small businesses based on who they let through the door,” he went on to say.
He then said, “As governor, Rick Jackson won’t care if you’re a Republican or a Democrat. He will fight for all 11 million Georgians and ensure opportunity has no zip code or party affiliation.” Toast on Lenox also pushed back against the comments in a statement posted on Instagram, according to The Daily Caller report.
The restaurant stated that any photos taken with a guest during a visit, along with any political statements included in the post, were reflective of the views of the individual and not those of the restaurant. The owners went on to say that the restaurant “has always been a place where all people are welcomed with the same hospitality and respect.”
They then explained that their focus as black entrepreneurs has always been about serving the community, creating jobs, and providing hospitality, not endorsing political candidates. Virgil Harper, chef and co-owner of the establishment, addressed the controversy in a separate post, writing, “A Discussion is not a Vote,” including the hashtag #StayWoke.
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This isn’t the first time Bottoms has called for a boycott. While serving as mayor during the dark times of the pandemic, Bottoms ordered Atlanta back into shutdown restrictions, a move that ultimately led to the closure of many local businesses. Her decision led to the state of Georgia challenging the city’s restrictions in court in order to put a leash on Bottoms and keep her from imposing more business closures.
Then, in 2021, Bottoms shined a light on Major League Baseball’s decision to yank the All-Star Game out of the state of Georgia due to election integrity legislation that was passed by her political opponents. The move cost the state over $100 million. “Just as elections have consequences, so do the actions of those who are elected. Unfortunately, the removal of the MLB All-Star game from GA is likely the 1st of many dominoes to fall, until the unnecessary barriers put in place to restrict access to the ballot box are removed,” Bottoms said in a post on X.
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