Hate Crime Against Arab-American Business Owner in San Francisco

San Francisco--When Nick Heydarian, owner of San Francisco's City Blend Café, arrived at work this morning, he found found that he had become the target of the hate crimes that are becoming more and more prevalent in this country. The windows had been smashed by vandals and anti-Arabic symbols had been written outside his café on 16th Street.

Nick stated that when he arrived at work, "There was a symbol of a medallion, at the center was a star and to the right side of the star there was a moon with a chain on it. I was shocked." He then noticed the smashed windows and immediately called 911. The Captain of the Mission District Police Station took the report.

Two weeks ago, City Blend Café was the site of a press conference that declared, "San Francisco is a Hate-Free Zone." Nick has been the target of numerous anti-Arab phone calls since the tragedy of September 11th. "I feel like we're targeted right now," said Heydarian. "It looks like they are in action. A week ago they were just making hate calls, now they're taking action. It's not only me, it looks like they're beginning to do this everywhere."

After talking to the police, Nick then called Medea Benjamin of Global Exchange, who has been instrumental in the Hate-Free Zone Campaign. Medea contacted various television and radio stations which have been covering the story all morning.

"This is a city of love--San Francisco is a city of love," Nick said. "I am about love. I'm not about hate. I grew up in this country. I grew up in San Francisco and I even grew up in this neighborhood. I'm not afraid of anything--nobody is going to beat me up. My people are all the way behind me and they're going to support me."

Right now, "I'm feeling anxiety because my business is absolutely zero. I don't know what I should do. I'm not making any money," said Nick. Regardless of that, "We're going to stay here all night tonight. The door is going to be open and all the people that want to support me are going to come over to the City Blend Café. We're going to have a good time partying - and we're going to dance and eat and we're going to show them we aren't afraid of them."