Canadian coffee chain cuts ties with franchisee for Nazi salute at anti-Israel march
Second Cup Cafe closes two locations owned by Mai Abdullhadi, who was filmed chanting ‘Final Solution’ at a Montreal protest; coffee chain says ‘zero tolerance for hate speech’
A popular Canadian coffee chain announced on Saturday that it had severed its business relationship with a franchise owner who was filmed giving a Nazi salute and calling for the “Final Solution” during an anti-Israel protest in Montreal, Canada.
The protester in question was later identified as Mai Abdullhadi, the owner of two franchises of Second Cup Cafe located at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital.
Abdullhadi was filmed giving a Nazi salute and chanting, “Final Solution is coming your way, the Final Solution,” at an anti-Israel protest on Thursday, as part of a wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations that took place in the Canadian city over the weekend.
The company said in a statement that it was closing those locations and terminating the owner’s contract.
It will continue paying staff and plans to reopen under new management, according to the CBC public broadcaster.
“Second Cup has zero tolerance for hate speech,” the company’s statement said. “This franchisee’s actions are not only a breach of our franchise agreement, but they also violate the values of inclusion and community we stand for at Second Cup.”
Official Statement pic.twitter.com/7gSUjcjAJZ
— Second Cup Café (@SecondCupCanada) November 23, 2024
Israel’s Channel 12 quoted a woman identified only as Sophia S., a young Israeli who has been living in Canada for over a decade, who expressed her mixed feelings about the chain’s response.
“It is somewhat encouraging that the company took action, but it’s still deeply troubling to hear about and see something like this happening in the street,” she said. “The escalation of violence and hate speech we’ve witnessed is concerning, and it feels like the situation is getting worse.”
The wave of protests in Montreal kicked off in opposition to the hosting of a NATO conference in the city’s downtown, as activists protested the Western military alliance due to members’ perceived support for Israel.
According to Canadian media reports, demonstrators smashed windows, burned vehicles, attacked police officers, set off smoke bombs and fireworks, and even burned an effigy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the protest.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was one of several officials to condemn the protest, saying: “What we saw on the streets of Montreal last night was appalling. Acts of antisemitism, intimidation and violence must be condemned wherever we see them.”
“This was nothing like lawful, peaceful protest,” said Bill Blair, Canada’s defense minister, at a conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia. “This was anarchy. It was an engagement in violence and hatred on display in the city of Montreal.”
He added, “Those behaviors are unacceptable and we condemn them, and in particular the hatred and antisemitism that was on display, in the strongest possible terms.”
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, a Jewish Canadian umbrella body, called the protests “a terrifying display of violence, hate and anarchy,” and called on Canada’s leaders to do more to fight antisemitism.
The group said in a statement: “Fires were lit, businesses vandalized, and Jewish Canadians once again felt unsafe in their own country. Our political leaders need to stop excusing extremism. Police must enforce the law. And all Canadians must take antisemitism seriously — NOW.”
For over a year, Canadian cities have been repeatedly taken over by hateful anti-Israel protests, with protesters bringing chaos to our streets.
Last night’s violence perpetrated by a toxic convergence of anti-Israel and anti-capitalist rioters in #Montreal must be the final… pic.twitter.com/vUEjB72eeX
— Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (@CanadianFSWC) November 23, 2024
In a statement, Deborah Lipstadt, the US State Department’s antisemitism envoy and a Holocaust historian, condemned the “Final Solution” comments and added: “The antisemitic rhetoric that fueled the anti-NATO riots in Montreal sends a clear signal. Jew-hatred incites violence, disrupts national security, and erodes democracy.”
The Times of Israel Community.