Residents living along Bury New Road protested outside Karen’s Diner tonight, objecting to Katie Hopkins’ evening at the burger joint where staff insult diners.
Tickets to see the former Apprentice contestant turned far right commentator and hear her controversial views, cost £37.50 and were sold out, while the publicity for the evening promised “an evening of madness with Katie and our Karens. This is a pairing not for the faint-hearted or easily offended. Your ticket will include a table for ‘Katie’s Batsh*t Bonkers Britain’ show, some infamous Karen’s entertainment AND we’ll even throw in a burger meal too!”
At one point there were six police officers and a riot van present as up to two dozen protesters played loud ethnic music and chanted ‘2-4-6-8 No to racism, No to Kate’, ‘Fascism isn’t entertainment’ and ‘Tell the manager to take racism off the menu’…
Indeed, it was pointed out through a loud haler that Karen’s Diner has a policy of ‘No racist, sexist, homophobic or ableist comments or slurs will be tolerated’…
As well as stating that ‘Islam disgusts me’, Hopkins, according to statements on Wikipedia, is anti-multiculturalism, anti-feminist (“Women don’t want equal treatment, they couldn’t handle it if they got it”), a climate change denier and has been accused of fat-shaming.
“I’m here to protest against Katie Hopkins, a notorious racist who has made various statements attacking Muslims – she even managed to get thrown off Twitter which is quite an achievement” explained Adam Rose, from the Whitefield side of Bury New Road “We’re here today to say she’s not welcome here in Prestwich, she’s not welcome anywhere and the community is standing united to oppose her.”
Prestwich resident Geoff Brown added, “Katie Hopkins is a well known racist who calls London ‘Londonistan’ and has a record of attacking Muslim families, often having to apologise. We are in a time of great conflict, are intensely aware of how racism can be used as never before and are determined not to let her get away without opposition. We are also determined to look forward to a positive world that doesn’t include the kind of vile ideas she is putting forward.
“Bury New Road, on which we live, from Strangeways to Whitefield, is five miles of road that unites communities from everywhere in the world” he reflected “Communities that are able to prove that she is wrong in the vile ideas she is presenting…”
Katie Hopkins didn’t appear to enter through the front door where protesters were gathered…
Update: 12.6.2024
Karen’s Diner on Bury New Road is to close, with the group undergoing what it calls a ‘reconstruction’…
“As it stands the initial licence agreement has come to an end and our head office wants the UK operation to concentrate on ‘pop up’ events rather than restaurants” a spokesperson states “In the current climate reluctantly we can understand their decision…The group is undergoing a reconstruction which will see the brand appearing in its pop up form all over Britain…”
Update: 18.9.2024
The group owning Karen’s Diners – Virtual Ventures UK – was ‘forced to go into liquidation’ owing creditors £400,000. In 2023 Virtual Ventures Australia entered administration owning $4.3 million.