Harara said online outrage amounts to “feelings being hurt because things are named things that you don’t like.”
“Media sensationalism around our menu changes seeks to do one thing, and that is to demonize anything remotely Palestinian or anything remotely close to what we would consider Palestinian resistance,” he told The Standard on Wednesday.
The coffee house doubled down on its position Monday in its Substack newsletter.
“Despite the sensationalism surrounding our choices, the core of our work is focused on nourishing our community,” the post reads. “By continuing this work, even when critics try to discredit it, we create a space for Palestinians and comrades to struggle, gather, reflect, and strengthen their shared identity and resistance.”
Harara said he’s inspired by Oakland’s activist history, such as the work of the Black Panthers, and is committed to pushing for radical change in the community.
“I never pulled a shot of espresso before this cafe. I didn’t know anything about coffee,” he said. “That’s all we wanted to create was a space for our community.”