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Shane Mayson, the owner and operator of a Washington, D.C. restaurant called Crazy Aunt Helen’s, received an email last week: his eatery was listed by the Proud Boys as a place to target with protests.
The email was sent from promoters of a group that helps organize drag story events in the Washington area. The restaurant was set to host one of the events Saturday, and Mayson’s first reaction was to “move into safety mode” after he was notified that the far-right group could demonstrate at the brunch event for children and their parents.
“I need to make sure that my kids are safe. My parents feel protected – like their kids are safe – and my staff feels like there’s action being made,” he told USA TODAY.
“When I found out that I was on the list, it wasn’t about me,” he said. “It was about how do we make sure this event goes on safely? I never once thought ‘I’m going to cancel it’ because that is not going to happen.”
The restaurant worked with area police and other city officials prior to the Saturday event. The Parasol Patrol, a group that shields children and families – often with colorful rainbow umbrellas – from protesters at LGBTQ events and other venues, also organized to stand outside the restaurant located in Washington’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.
“We use our umbrellas as shields to block the kids from having to see the signs, the angry faces, and also so the protesters can’t get a good view of the families of the children to video with them,” Pasha Ripley, co-founder of the Parasol Patrol, told USA TODAY.
Both Ripley and Mayson said they were nervous after members of the Proud Boys recently targeted similar events in the area.
Men from the group yelled homophobic and transphobic slurs, held graphic signs and confronted Parasol Patrol volunteers earlier this month at a bookstore that was hosting a story hour with a drag queen in nearby Silver Spring, Maryland, the Washington Post reported.
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‘A day of joyful celebration’
But when Saturday morning arrived, Mayson called it “a day of joyful celebration.” Police blocked off some traffic, and about 250 volunteers and community members showed up to support the Parasol Patrol.
A large group of Proud Boys members didn’t show up to target the event – though some people in the area reported seeing individuals in the group’s black and yellow gear, according to the Post.
“The kids inside had no idea,” Mayson said.
He noted that some children were at the event for their birthday, and they thought the volunteers outside were there to celebrate with them.
“It was really powerful,” Mayson said. “It is my favorite show that we do because it is just a room full of parents and kids laughing and running around and enjoying music and books and dancing. It’s just beautiful.”
Following the event, the restaurant owner said the business is “going to keep doing the things that we think are fun for our neighborhood, and our city, and for the people in it.”
“Once I asked for help, it was an onslaught of help and support,” he said. “The whole day turned from what could have been something really ugly, to just a beautiful day.”
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