Oakland Cafe Ordered to Pay $59,000 for Assaulting Jewish Customer
An Oakland cafe that banned Zionists and served provocative items was ordered to pay $59,000 in damages to a Jewish resident who was assaulted by the staff.
A California court has ordered the "Jerusalem Cafe" in Oakland to pay $59,000 in damages to Michael Addis, a state resident who was assaulted by the cafe's owner and staff following an anti-Zionist boycott.
The cafe previously made headlines after announcing it would refuse service to "Zionists" and offering provocative menu items such as "sweet Sinwar" and "ice in tea fada," a play on the word intifada. Addis entered the establishment wearing a hat featuring a Star of David and the Hebrew phrase "Am Yisrael Chai," requesting to purchase a cookie.
Staff refused to serve Addis, and after he protested, he was physically ejected by owner Abdel al-Rahim Harrara and two employees, who continued to pursue him outside. The judge ruled on the damages after noting that the cafe's owner repeatedly defied court orders despite prior warnings.
The cafe currently faces two additional lawsuits, including one filed by another Jewish citizen denied service and another by the US Department of Justice over the promotion of rhetoric associated with designated terrorist organizations. The cafe closed in August and is currently fundraising to cover its legal defense.
