Owner Of Popular Cape Cod Restaurant Attended Capitol Protest

EASTHAM, MA — The owner of Arnold's Lobster and Clam Bar, a popular Cape Cod restaurant, attended the protest that turned violent at the U.S. Capitol last week.

Nathan Nickerson was one of thousands who gathered at the Capitol on Wednesday. The ensuing riot ended with five people killed, dozens arrested and the delay of the certification of President-elect Joe Biden's victory.

Nickerson told Boston radio host Howie Carr he was not involved in the violence that day. He said he went to Washington, D.C., only to protest.

"I didn’t breach the wall," Nickerson said. "We watched people do it, and it was symbolic more than anything ... There was no danger, no one was in danger. It didn’t create any real problems, but it’ll come out like that."

Patch reached out to Nickerson for comment but received no response.

Representative and senators were trapped in the Capitol Building for hours before Capitol police quelled the riot. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) told Patch some of his colleagues said "it was the most frightening day of their lives."

When asked whether he was happy he attended the protest, Nickerson told Carr, "Oh yeah, it was fun."

Several people on social media have called on diners to boycott Arnold's. A user identified as Beverly Doughty tweeted a screenshot that she said showed Nickerson's Facebook post.

Patch reached out to Doughty for comment but did not receive a response.

Since the tweet and screenshot began circulating, Nickerson told MassLive that a photo in the tweet is not him and provided a photo of him from that day in a different outfit.

Nickerson posted in an Eastham Facebook group to explain his involvement in the protest and condemn the actions of those who committed violence. The post has since been deleted from the page. Nickerson told MassLive he did not want the post deleted, but he has since deleted his social media accounts. Nickerson told the outlet since the false picture began circulating he has received death threats.

Arnold's Lobster and Clam Bar has been a summer dining spot on Cape Cod for over 40 years. The restaurant is closed for the winter and set to reopen in the summer. The restaurant could not be reached for comment.