Three employees from a Northern California coffee house, featured in a viral video denying a Jewish woman access to a bathroom due to anti-Israeli graffiti, are no longer employed, according to the eatery’s owners.
The incident unfolded at Farley’s East in Oakland, where the woman sought to photograph objectionable graffiti, leading to a confrontation described as “shocking and unacceptable” by the owners. The bathroom displayed messages such as “Zionism = fascism” and “Your neutrality/apathy is enabling genocide.”
When the woman requested to take pictures, three employees obstructed her, stating it was private property. One of them mentioned, “I know Israel loves taking private property and saying it’s their own.” The situation escalated, with the employees eventually allowing the customer back into the restroom.
In a statement, Farley’s owners, Amy and Chris Hillyard, apologized and admitted they should have taken more decisive action. They asserted that the incident was not aligned with their values and that the disrespectful and hurtful behavior of the employees led to their termination. The owners emphasized their intolerance for any conduct at Farley’s that makes people feel unwelcome or unsafe.
View this post on Instagram
The terminated employees, including line chef Jesse Turner and a manager, were fired, and four others resigned in solidarity. Turner acknowledged the stressful 10 minutes leading up to the video but expressed regret for escalating the situation. He defended the expression of support for Palestinians but acknowledged the need to handle the situation differently.
You can also read: Brandon Smith Discovered Dead on Eve of Championship Game
The incident highlights the broader impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict, contributing to rising incidents of domestic antisemitism and Islamophobia in the United States. University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill’s resignation over criticism related to campus antisemitism also underscores the ongoing challenges surrounding these issues.