The San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA) today condemned the alleged hate vandalism targeting Urban Deli, a downtown Petaluma, Calif., business.
This incident, targeting a Palestinian-and-Mexican-owned cafe, has been met with an outpouring of support from the local community.
According to the Petaluma Argus Courier, unidentified vandals targeted Urban Deli, located in Theatre Square on Petaluma Boulevard, with racist graffiti and scratches on its windows and windowpanes. This act of vandalism has been regarded as a targeted attack due to the ethnicity of the restaurant’s owners, Wissam Qudsieh, a Palestinian-American, and his wife Marla, who is Mexican-American.
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Despite the fear and anxiety this incident caused, a remarkable show of support from the community has emerged. Local residents brought flowers to the deli, offered therapy services, and volunteered to clean up the graffiti. A GoFundMe campaign was initiated to help cover the damages.
Petaluma Police Sgt. Jake Gutierrez has confirmed that they are actively investigating this incident as a hate crime.
In a statement, CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo offered her support, saying, “We urge solidarity with the owners of Urban Deli and the entire Petaluma community in condemning this apparent act of hate. No business should ever have to endure such vandalism and racism. We are encouraged to see the community rallying to support Urban Deli and urge authorities to swiftly identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”
Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian hate incidents and crimes have been on the rise across the country, including the San Francisco Bay Area, since Oct. 7.
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