Following a Jewish woman's obstruction of the restroom, a California coffee establishment fires its employees

Following an incident at a California coffee shop where a Jewish woman was prevented from using the bathroom while encountering anti-Israel comments, the establishment took decisive action by terminating three employees. The coffee shop owner expressed shock and deemed the employees' behavior unacceptable, resulting in their dismissal.

In a public statement posted on Farley’s East in Oakland's social media, owners Amy and Chris Hillyard emphasized that the actions of the terminated employees were contrary to the shop's values of promoting a welcoming and safe environment. The owners expressed regret for the staff's poor handling of the situation, issuing an apology for any distress caused to the customer. Additionally, corrective measures were implemented with the staff, and offensive graffiti discovered in the incident was promptly removed.

The video capturing the incident, recorded by the affected customer, depicted three coffee shop employees physically blocking her from accessing the restroom. The customer, who had previously observed antisemitic graffiti in the bathroom, attempted to re-enter to document the remarks when the employees obstructed her, according to the New York Post.

During the confrontation, one employee asserted that the cafe was private property, insisting the customer leave. Another employee made remarks about Israel claiming private property and suggested she exit. Meanwhile, a male employee argued they had the right to refuse service.

Engaging in a dialogue with the coffee shop's employees, the customer highlighted the discriminatory nature of the situation, emphasizing that she should not be excluded while others were permitted. In response, a neighboring business employee extended an invitation to use their restroom.

The dispute continued, with the coffee shop employees ultimately relenting and allowing the customer access to the bathroom. The video, shared on Tuesday by StopAntisemitism, garnered over 2.6 million views, bringing attention to the incident and the subsequent actions taken by the coffee shop.