On a bright morning in Richardson, Texas, Andy Ternay and his partner walked into the First Watch café, hoping to enjoy a simple breakfast. The café was full of families, chatter, and laughter, but that peaceful vibe quickly shifted when the manager approached them. Without much of an explanation, she told them they needed to leave.
The reason? Andy’s shirt. The shirt was very clear with its message: “FUCK TRUMP AND FUCK YOU FOR VOTING FOR HIM” on the front and “FUCK THE RACIST ALT-RIGHT” on the back. Andy was confused. Why was his shirt causing such a problem in a café?
Andy took to Facebook to share what happened. “First, we were approached by a manager who let us know that customers were very distressed by my shirt and that children might see it,” he posted. “I expressed deep sympathies and let her know that explaining ‘grab ‘em by the pussy’ and golden showers to my daughter was equally unpleasant.”
His words showed how he felt about the hypocrisy of focusing on his shirt while letting other offensive things slide in everyday life.
The manager explained that a group of customers was “suffering due to my indescribable poor taste,” according to Andy. But to Andy, the shirt was simply his way of expressing his beliefs. He didn’t think it was inappropriate. The incident became even more tense after their drinks were served and their orders were made. Then a cook appeared and asked them to leave.
In his Facebook post, Andy continued, “We ask to tip our server for occupying her table, get drinks to go, and leave.” To his surprise, one table of white people actually applauded as they left the café. But that wasn’t the end of the story. In the parking lot, a Black server approached them. “I just wanted to let you know that I quit,” she said.
“You should hear these people asking not to be seated near Muslims.” That comment hit Andy hard. It was a glimpse into the attitudes of some people that he hadn’t expected.
Andy later spoke to The Daily Beast about the compliments he received. “A Latino lady at the register thanked me, and two African American servers said my shirt was awesome,” he said. To Andy, the shirt wasn’t just about making a statement—it was about letting people know that they weren’t alone.
“I don’t want people of color, Muslims, LGBTQ people, immigrants to feel alone,” Andy explained. “The proper use of white male privilege is to help lift others and to speak truth to power.”
After leaving the restaurant, things took another unexpected turn when a police officer stopped Andy in the parking lot. “I stop the car and ask the officer if she is there over a t-shirt,” Andy wrote. The officer confirmed it. She asked his name, but Andy politely declined.
“I cite Cohen v. California (1971), in which the Supreme Court upheld the right to wear a t-shirt saying ‘FUCK THE DRAFT,’” Andy said. The officer, not happy with the exchange, simply said, “Just leave, okay?”
The restaurant later released a statement explaining their actions. “We asked the gentleman to leave because of complaints from families with children regarding the vulgar language on his shirt,” the statement said. “We understand our customers’ unease and chose to refuse service. This is about the language, not politics or race.”
They defended their decision by comparing it to how children can’t go to R-rated movies because of language.
Although the situation had sparked online debate, Andy didn’t hold a grudge against the restaurant. His post went viral with over 42,000 shares, but what troubled him most were the reactions from the African American community. “I’ve gotten heartbreaking messages from African Americans saying they’ve lost faith in their white neighbors,” Andy shared with The Daily Beast.
“They’re no longer sure their neighbors have their back. My shirt was meant to remind them they are not alone.”
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