- Bar Weathered Waves posted on Instagram that they are ‘banning all Zionists forever’
- The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services referred the post to the attorney general’s office to review whether it violates discrimination laws
- The United Jewish Federation of Utah condemned the bar for its ‘biased policies’
A Salt Lake City bar owned by a former mayoral candidate is being called anti-Semitic after he announced on social media that it would allow a “no Zionists” policy.
Weathered Waves, a cider bar, posted on Instagram on Monday that it is “permanently banning all Zionists from our establishments.”
The bar is part of the Six Sailor Cider group, which is owned by former Salt Lake City mayoral candidate Michael Valentine, who received 7 percent of the city’s vote in 2023.
Utah’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services, which gave Weathered Waves its license on Feb. 29, has referred the bar to the state attorney general’s office to investigate whether the policy violates discrimination laws, reported FOX 13.
“We are shocked by the ongoing genocide in Gaza and even more shocked to see so many Americans ignoring and rationalizing the ethnic cleansing. “That is why we are happy to announce that we are banning all Zionists,” the bar said in a message.
Weathered Waves, a cider bar, posted on Instagram that it is “permanently banning all Zionists from our establishments”
“Zionism is hate speech. It is white supremacy and has nothing to do with the beautiful Jewish faith. We forever stand with the people of Gaza and humanity.”
‘We dream of a free and prosperous Palestine. Armistice now,” said the bar.
Shortly thereafter, the United Jewish Federation of Utah condemned Weathered Waves for its “biased policies,” it reported ABC4.
“Under the guise of anti-Zionist rhetoric, this business owner demonizes those who believe in the right of a Jewish state to exist and who applies a double standard to Israel and our community,” the Federation said.
“Anti-Zionist rhetoric can and is often used in the context of anti-Semitic acts.”
“No group should be excluded from a local business based on their perceived or actual identity or beliefs,” the Federation said.
Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services spokeswoman Michelle Schmitt said The Salt Lake Tribune the agency received “several comments from members of the public” about the post.
Schmitt said the department referred the post to the attorney general’s office “so they can conduct an investigation into whether the company is violating discrimination laws.”
The bar is part of the Six Sailor Cider group, which is owned by former Salt Lake City mayoral candidate Michael Valentine, who received 7 percent of the city’s vote in 2023.
Valentine said his establishment has received thousands of messages since the post was made, including a threat to burn down the bar, which he reported to police.
The department is also reviewing its own “legal options for responding to discrimination at DABS-licensed institutions.”
Valentine said his establishment has received thousands of messages since the post was made, including a threat to burn down the bar, which he reported to police.
‘None of us calls for violence. We demand a ceasefire, a unilateral ceasefire on both sides,” Valentine said ABC4.
In a follow-up post, the bar said: “For the record, we ban Zionists, not Jews.”
The Weathered Waves Instagram account has since posted photos of reviews people have left criticizing the “no Zionists” policy.