A cafe in San Francisco, belonging to a Jewish store owner, was vandalized with antisemitic graffiti last weekend, according to local ABC-affiliate ABC7 News.
The owner of Manny's Cafe, Manny Yekutiel, is a Jewish man whose storefront has been the target of many antisemitic gestures over the years. His father, who grew up in Afghanistan, left the country for Israel after being coerced to leave his home country.
The storefront was marked with graffiti that read, "racist pigz [sic]," "Zionist pigz [sic]" and "free Palestine."
"Unfortunately Manny's, since it opened a few years back, has consistently been targeted by people attacking Manny because he supports the right of the state of Israel to exist," San Francisco State Senator Scott Wiener expressed to ABC7 News. "This needs to stop.
"It has no place in San Francisco or anywhere."
The storefront has since been repainted.
Following the incident, ABC noted that many San Francisco figureheads, leaders and officials condemned the antisemitic vandalism.
"San Francisco will not accept antisemitic attacks against anyone," Mayor London Breed said in a tweet. "Manny has been a leader in our city and an advocate for bringing people together. This kind of hate against any and all communities has no place in our city."
San Francisco will not accept antisemitic attacks against anyone. Manny has been a leader in our city and an advocate for bringing people together. This kind of hate against any and all communities has no place in our city. https://t.co/G6LFbYokPg
— London Breed (@LondonBreed) June 8, 2021
The police chief for the city, William Scott, describe the act as "cowardly" adding that the SFPD "stands with" Yekutiel and local police officials are looking into the vandalism.
(1/2) Few businesses are as welcoming of debate inside their walls as Manny’s. How cowardly that someone would tag such hateful views outside its walls. SFPD stands with Manny Yekutiel and all victims of hate crimes in San Francisco. https://t.co/pER9FzUa1G
— SFPD Chief Scott (@SFPDChief) June 9, 2021
A spokesperson for Yekutiel, David Perry, released a statement on behalf of the store owner, who declined to personally comment on the situation to local news affiliates.
"We're so moved by the outpouring of support from city leaders, elected officials, our community and our neighbors who know what Manny's stands for," Perry said. "We will continue to do the ceaseless work of building community, fostering peaceful, respectful dialogue, and creating needed space for discourse."
Israel and Hamas in Gaza recently agreed to a ceasefire that ended 11 days of escalated violence. The fighting triggered mass protests against Israel and an increase in antisemitic incidents in Europe, the United States and beyond.
The ADL reported an increase of 75%, regarding antisemitic incidents - including verbal abuse, vandalism and physical altercations - across the United States as a whole.
