Tiktoker charged for tearing down Greek flags she thought were Israeli at NJ restaurant

A woman who tore down a string of Greek flags at a New Jersey restaurant after mistaking them for Israeli flags has been arrested and charged, the New York Post reports.

Amber Matthews, 23, was charged with bias and intimidation over the March 11 incident at Efi’s Gyro in Montclair, police say.

Matthews filmed the incident, but only recently uploaded it to TikTok, where it quickly went viral.

The New York Post says the clip has been viewed 4.5 million times on TikTok and has millions more views on other social media platforms.

“Montclair is a community that strives to treat all individuals with dignity and respect,” police Chief Todd Conforti tells the Montclair local. “I hope this investigation sends a clear message that our agency will not tolerate any form of harassment or discrimination, and offenders will be held accountable for their actions.”

In the video, Matthews tears down a string of flags outside a restaurant.

“Free Palestine! What are you looking at? You know damn well there’s a genocide,” she said. “I’m taking this shit down.”

“I don’t stand for it. There’s genocide, and I don’t stand for Zionism,” Matthews said.

“Are you proud of your heritage,” she asked a worker, who then informs her that it is Greek flags.

“My bad,” said Matthews. “It looks like Israel. Do you want it back?”

Matthews is due in court in December.

Remember the TikToker who “mistook” the Greek flag for an Israeli one?

The video, as absurd as it seems, was not a skit.

Amber Matthews, 23, was charged with bias and intimidation for ripping down the Greek flags in her ludicrous blunder.
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— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 25, 2024