LUMMI ISLAND, Wash. – A group of protesters made up mostly of Lummi Island residents gathered outside the world-renowned Willows Inn Friday night, calling for the resignation of the restaurant’s chef.
The New York Times reports that about 50 protesters gathered outside the inn, carrying hand-painted signs with slogans like “Take Sexism off the menu” and “racism is not a local ingredient” as they called for the resignation of 35-year-old Blaine Wetzel, who has been accused of creating a hostile workplace with homophobic and racist language, verbal abuse, sexism and sexual harassment.
Wetzel is also accused of deceiving customers by regularly using supermarket and commercial ingredients and ordering staff to lie about it.
Wetzel has largely denied the allegations and has made no public statements since the New York Times published an article in April detailing the allegations.
