EJ MONTINI

Montini: Valley to vandalized Middle Eastern deli: No hate on our watch

EJ Montini
opinion columnist


We shouldn’t jump to any conclusions about motive, but the very nice – very talented – people who own and operate the Middle Eastern Bakery and Deli on 16th Street in Phoenix have had their front window smashed twice since the election.

The good people of Phoenix and the Valley are answering back.

What they’re saying, essentially, is: No hate on our watch.

A customer of the restaurant and grocery, Marnee Burris, wrote about the damage on Facebook and the post went viral. A GoFundMe account was started to pay for the damages.

As was reported by Yihyun Jeong in The Republic the community has come out in force to show support for the long-time neighborhood gathering place.

Last I checked, the account to pay for damages had about $8,000 in it.

Businesses have come forward to help with any repairs.

I’d guess that the crowds all day Monday at the restaurant are going to be what the president-elect would call YUGE.

That’s how it should be.

Cowards who somehow feel empowered throw rocks at windows.

We may have to get used to that for a while.

It’s good to know they’ll face and underground army of honorable people prepared to rise up against any cheap show of bias or bigotry and beat it to a pulp.

With love.

Rachel Shipp looks at the damaged window to the Middle Eastern Bakery and Deli in Phoenix.