Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is among a growing number of people who denounced a new LGBTQ-friendly bar scheduled to open this month after allegations that the owner has a history of posting hateful sentiments toward Jewish people on social media.
This week, a bar called Cheers launched a GoFundMe page asking for $1.5 million in donations to aid in its mission to “preserve the LGBTQ community.”
Andy Birkey, a former journalist, said he saw the GoFundMe campaign and wanted to know more about the ownership. Birkey’s online sleuthing led him to the Facebook page of owner Emad Abed.
The page contained several posts attacking members of the Jewish faith and calling Americans “stupid” for their alliance with Israel.
“I hate Israel, and Israelis, I hate America for supporting Israel,” reads one post, provided in a screenshot by Birkey. “America is run by Zionist Jews. The Average American is dumb.”
“Did you know Israel and it’s [sic] people must be eliminated from existence?” reads another, which goes on to compare Israelis to “cancer.”
Reached by phone Wednesday, Abed denied that he wrote the posts, saying they were fabricated.
“I told them a million times on that thread that I’m not anti-Semitic,” he said. “My best friends are Jewish. I love them, they love me.”
Owner of new LGBT bar in Minneapolis sparks protest over anti-Semitic posts
This week, a bar called Cheers launched a GoFundMe page asking for $1.5 million in donations to aid in its mission to “preserve the LGBTQ community.”
Andy Birkey, a former journalist, said he saw the GoFundMe campaign and wanted to know more about the ownership. Birkey’s online sleuthing led him to the Facebook page of owner Emad Abed.
The page contained several posts attacking members of the Jewish faith and calling Americans “stupid” for their alliance with Israel.
“I hate Israel, and Israelis, I hate America for supporting Israel,” reads one post, provided in a screenshot by Birkey. “America is run by Zionist Jews. The Average American is dumb.”
“Did you know Israel and it’s [sic] people must be eliminated from existence?” reads another, which goes on to compare Israelis to “cancer.”
Reached by phone Wednesday, Abed denied that he wrote the posts, saying they were fabricated.
“I told them a million times on that thread that I’m not anti-Semitic,” he said. “My best friends are Jewish. I love them, they love me.”
Owner of new LGBT bar in Minneapolis sparks protest over anti-Semitic posts