A group of local residents gathered on a cloudy Sunday afternoon outside the Cracker Barrel location in Maryland, where a group of special needs and autistic children were denied dine-in service earlier this month.

The protesters displayed signs with messages like “treat us equally” and “inclusion is a right, not a privilege.” Some demonstrators wore clothing featuring rainbow puzzle pieces, a symbol associated with autism awareness.

One of the signs proclaimed, “God loves and accepts everyone! Why can’t Cracker Barrel?”

Earlier this December, 11 students and 7 staff members from the Charles County Public Schools District were refused dine-in service at the Cracker Barrel in Waldorf, Maryland, according to Superintendent Maria Navarro’s statement. This outing was part of a community-based program designed for special education students to enhance their social skills and practice real-world interactions.

The students are enrolled at Dr. James Craik Elementary School and participate in the district’s ACHIEVE program, which caters to individuals with “significant cognitive disabilities,” as well as the SOAR program for students on the autism spectrum.

Protest Initiated: ‘Can we eat now?’

A chant spread through the group of protesters – a man with a bullhorn led the call of “can we eat,” and they replied, “now.”

Shortly after, the crowd began to shout other phrases: “Treat us equally,” and “our kids matter.”

Within 30 minutes of the protest starting, many more people joined in, some bringing their children, filling the area near the restaurant’s entrance.

‘Treated as Human Beings’

Johnna Penrod, upon hearing about how Cracker Barrel treated her nonverbal daughter and her classmates, felt her fears about her daughter’s acceptance in society were confirmed.

“We deserve to be recognized as human beings, not regarded as inferior because we are different from the norm,” said Penrod, 29, as she participated in the protest. She wore a sweatshirt emblazoned with “#CanWeEatNow,” which she created specifically for the event.

Her husband, Dustin Reed, initiated the protest after she expressed dissatisfaction with a meeting held with Cracker Barrel executives about what happened. “They didn’t agree with anything we presented,” she explained. “They even accused our teachers of lying during the discussion.”

Originally from nearby White Plains, Penrod remarked that the protestors consisted of friends, family, strangers, and fellow community members. “I’m thrilled that this situation is receiving the attention it deserves,” she said. “Typically, issues like this go unnoticed.”

“We are here to inform everyone that equality should extend to all, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.”

Father claims staff referred to his daughter as ‘this’

Andrew Blumhardt also joined the protest with his 7-year-old daughter Mary, one of the children who was denied service on December 3.

Blumhardt, 36, recounted that when his daughter was being served, the server asked her aide, “Can you move this?” while referring to Mary, who depends on an electric chair. Additionally, he experienced a staff member continuously bumping into her chair.

After the students left their seats, they were required to wait in the gift shop, which prompted complaints from other customers.

“Not everyone understands the challenges faced by children with disabilities,” he expressed. “Clearly, the Cracker Barrel staff did not comprehend.”

Blumhardt noted that his family felt overwhelmed by the situation.

Following the incident, the community provided substantial support. “We experienced a lot of kindness, compassion, and understanding,” he shared.

Other local businesses also reached out in a sincere effort, expressing, ‘We would love for you to come visit us,’” he noted.

Blumhardt highlighted that trips to public areas bring Mary immense joy. “She shines when she’s around people,” he remarked.

“You can see a noticeable difference in her.”

Cracker Barrel diner: ‘They should have been able to eat’

While dining at the Cracker Barrel in Maryland, Kurt Yancy Williams, 52, remarked that he was unaware of the protest but believes that discrimination has no place in U.S. businesses.

“If they entered seeking a meal, they should have been served,” he stated.

A spokesperson from Cracker Barrel declined to comment to YSL News and halted the interview with Yancy Williams.

Protesters obstruct traffic

Numerous protesters marched in the street outside of Cracker Barrel, blocking traffic as they chanted phrases such as, “Treat us equally” and “our kids matter.”

Many vehicles honked in support.

“It’s a matter of choosing sides—equality versus inequality,” one woman shouted.

Hot chocolate cups left by Cracker Barrel, say protesters

Protesters claimed that Cracker Barrel employees set out a tray of hot chocolate for them.

Dustin Reed, a father of one of the special needs children who was denied dine-in service, moved the cups away from the protest area. The cups remained untouched.

“That just shows how little the company cares,” said Dyotha Swat, president of the Charles County NAACP, who participated in the protest, gesturing to the cups. “I can’t put into words how that feels.”

Nearby, protesters chanted, “Shut it down.”

A protester once worked at the Maryland Cracker Barrel

Jeremiah Smith, 35, previously worked at the Waldorf, Maryland, Cracker Barrel where the accusation of service refusal occurred. Now a chef at the Department of Justice and a father to two young children with autism, he found the news of the incident particularly distressing.

“There’s no reason not to serve people,” he asserted. “I worked there every morning, preparing food. It isn’t complicated.”

He attended the protest to show support for local educators. “They’ve given so much for my kids,” he said.

Smith’s son is starting to communicate verbally, while his daughter remains non-verbal, though she finds other ways to communicate effectively, he explained.

“Every day I wake up excited to see my daughter’s smile,” he expressed. “She greets me with a kiss, and I know she feels loved.”

Cracker Barrel’s parent meeting deemed ‘superficial’

Kisa Lee, 43, whose son was among those denied service, criticized Cracker Barrel’s response as “superficial.”

Lee’s husband attended a meeting with company officials regarding the incident, but according to her, the meeting focused on asking parents for their feelings rather than outlining actions.

“I expected something more meaningful, like sensitivity training,” she explained. “Instead, it felt like, ‘Oh, we get that you’re upset.’”

“They’re even disputing some of the teachers’ accounts of the matter,” Lee added.

“I want genuine responses and real actions that show they care about the community,” she emphasized.

What transpired at Cracker Barrel?

Navarro explained that prior to the visit, Charles County Public Schools staff had informed the Waldorf Cracker Barrel about the group and its purpose. They were told reservations were not necessary.

Upon arrival, the restaurant’s general manager informed staff that they could not accommodate the group and requested that the restaurant be removed from the list of approved locations for community-based instruction trips, according to Katie Schneider, a special education teacher from Charles County Public Schools, in an email to parents.

While the group could not dine in, they were allowed to order to-go. However, Schneider mentioned that as they waited for their order inside, “servers were openly rude towards our staff and ignored all of our students.”

After approximately an hour of waiting, she said the students opted to wait on the school bus outside. Eventually, the group enjoyed their lunch back at the elementary school.

Cracker Barrel terminates 3 employees and begins investigation

Cracker Barrel refuted Navarro’s claims of refusal of service, stating that a lack of staff led to the closure of one of its dining areas.

In reaction to the events involving the school group, Cracker Barrel reported the termination of the restaurant’s general manager and two employees. Additionally, they initiated an internal investigation, speaking with diners and other employees for insight.

On Dec. 9, Cracker Barrel executives convened with staff and parents from Charles County Public Schools to discuss how the group was treated during their restaurant visit, with some parents.

Many parents expressed their discontent regarding a recent meeting with executives from Cracker Barrel about how special education students are treated.

In response, Cracker Barrel issued a statement on Tuesday, emphasizing their commitment to providing an inclusive environment for guests of all abilities and their strict stance against discrimination. They acknowledged, “We apologize for not living up to our standards and for not offering the hospitality that Cracker Barrel is renowned for, especially to these students and their teachers.”