A Melbourne man has spoken out after being asked to remove his MAGA hat at a popular St Kilda pub, with staff claiming it was “enticing political violence”.
The Incident Unfolds
Angelo, a regular at Captain Baxter in St Kilda, was wearing his Make America Great Again hat on Sunday when a staff member told him to remove it or leave the venue.
He told 3AW’s Tom Elliott that he was shocked and embarrassed by the request.
“I’ve been coming to this venue for five or six Sundays in a row, and I’ve worn this hat here many times before without any issues,” Angelo said.
“I spend a lot of money here on food and drink, and this is how they treat a regular patron?”
A Hat That Incites Political Violence?
The staff member claimed that the MAGA hat was inciting political violence, but Angelo disagrees. “I just objected a little bit and said, ‘Why? I’m not enticing anything. I’ve worn this hat here many times, and it’s not offensive at all,'” he said.
Angelo eventually removed the hat to avoid trouble, but not before feeling embarrassed and offended.
“Initially, I was embarrassed because there were a lot of people around, and they saw what was happening,” he said. “But then I felt offended because I go to this venue quite often.”
A Venue That Claims to be Inclusive
Ironically, Captain Baxter’s website states that it is a place “free from discrimination, where we respect and celebrate the diversity of our communities”. However, Angelo’s experience suggests that this may not be the case.
What’s Next for Angelo?
Angelo has said that he will not be spending his money at the St Kilda venue in the future, but he will continue to wear his MAGA hat. “I wear it often, and I’ve never had anyone give me a hard time about it before,” he said. “I love the color, and I do support Donald Trump.
I’m not an extreme right-winger or anything like that. I just think it’s a great hat with a bit of meaning to it.”
It’s unclear whether someone at the venue complained about the hat, but Angelo suspects that it may have had something to do with it being Australia Day. One thing is for sure – this incident has left a sour taste in Angelo’s mouth, and he won’t be back at Captain Baxter anytime soon.