Trump-Supporting Kosher Restaurant Owner Accused Of ‘Gentrifying’ LA
Image by Asher Caffe
Kosher restaurant Asher Caffe and Lounge is being accused of neighborhood gentrification by protesters in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. Boyle Heights has been a hotspot for gentrification protests lately, but the newest target of activist ire isn’t your usual overpriced, artisanal coffee shop. In fact, Asher Caffe is kosher.
But gentrification wasn’t the only reason why activist group Defend Boyle Heights, who describe themselves as an “anti-gentrification coalition devoted to community and our hood,” protested Asher Caffe. Defend Boyle Heights posted a hood alert on their Facebook page declaring that Asher Caffe owner Asher Shalom “is an out and proud xenophobe and Trump supporter. He is also part of the #GentryClass trying to bring more alcohol into the community.”
Asher Shalom is a textile magnate who has been in business for forty years, who happened to supply fabrics for the US Olympic team. Evidence of his support for Trump was shown in the form of screenshots of his social media posts, which appear to be from his Facebook and Twitter pages.
Image by Defend Boyle Heights/FB
A video posted to their site showed upwards of 30 protesters declaring a boycott. Protesters held signs declaring RACISM NOT KOSHER IN BOYLE HEIGHTS and shouting, “Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here” and “Gentries get the f*ck out.”
Asher Caffe’s membership to the Boyle Heights Chamber of Commerce was rescinded and his dues returned – not for being pro-Trump, but for his anti-immigrant stances.
“We rescinded his membership Tuesday because of public statements he made regarding immigrants that are not in line with the chamber’s values and objectives,” Chamber President Jennifer Lahoda said to the Boyle Heights Beat.
Some people in the comments of Defend Boyle Heights’ Facebook page called the protest anti-Semitic, noting that Boyle Heights had once had a vibrant Jewish community (according to Eater, Boyle Heights was upwards of 40% Jewish), while others applauded the activists for defending their town against gentrifiers.
Asher Caffe’s Yelp page was quickly ambushed by protesters, prompting Yelp to declare an active clean-up on the page for content related to media reports.
Asher Shalom and Defend Boyle Heights did not respond to a request for comment.
Shira Feder is a writer for the Forward. You can reach her at [email protected]
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we still need 300 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Only 300 more gifts needed by April 30
