OAKLAND — Federal prosecutors on Monday sued the homeowners of the Jerusalem Espresso Home in North Oakland, claiming they discriminated towards Jewish prospects and twice ordered individuals who wore hats emblazoned with the Star of David to go away.
The U.S. Justice Division’s civil lawsuit towards Fathi Abdulrahim Harara and Native Grounds LLC facilities on a number of encounters that occurred in summer time and fall 2024, in accordance with the criticism filed in federal court docket. Prosecutors additionally stated the espresso store offered a drink that appeared to reference the previous chief of Hamas who helped deliberate the Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel.
The espresso store opened in 2023 with a bunch of drinks impressed by Palestinian tradition, together with a espresso drink known as Bebsi and a date-tahini latte. On the time, Harara touted it as a “vibrant cultural hub for Palestinian and Islamic thought.”
Federal prosecutors declare that in June 2024, an individual sitting exterior the espresso store verbally berated a person who approached carrying a hat with the Star of David on it. Two months later, when the person returned with out carrying the hat, an worker allegedly ordered him to go away, saying, “You’re the guy with the hat. You’re the Jew. You’re the Zionist. We don’t want you in our coffee shop. Get out,” in accordance with the lawsuit.
In October 2024, Harara allegedly advised a unique man carrying a hat with the Star of David on it to go away, after asking whether or not he was a “Zionist,” the lawsuit stated.
Federal prosecutors additionally famous the names of the cafe’s drinks of their lawsuit, suggesting that one seemed to be a play on the time period “infitada,” whereas one other appeared to reference Yahya Sinwar, an architect of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assaults on Israel.
