The University of Washington College Republicans group threatened to sue Shultzy’s Bar and Grill in Seattle Saturday after the bar tried to deny the group the ability to host an event celebrating Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court.
The bar backed down after Freedom X, an organization that aims to protect conservative and religious freedom of expression, stepped in and helped the UW College Republicans by providing legal counsel.
“We’re happy this is all over. We wanted to grab a beer – you know, kind of a little joke. We all know Brett Kavanaugh likes a beer,” Chevy Swanson, the UW College Republicans president, told Kiro7.
To all the libs, still angry over this past weekends events, Kavanaugh is confirmed, we got into the bar after threatening to sue, and there’s nothing you can do about it! #Beers4Brett #Kavanaugh
— College Republicans @ UW (@UW_CR) October 9, 2018
According to Seattle statute, political ideology is a protected class, meaning no one can be discriminated against based on their political beliefs. In most other cities, businesses are able to deny service based on political beliefs.
“The First Amendment does not apply to private action. This would be a purely private bar exercising their own judgment on who they want to serve on the basis of political ideology, and they could do that under national law,” constitutional law expert, Jeffery Needle, told Kiro7.
Around 15 UW College Republicans attended the “Beers 4 Brett” event.