Americans need to stop boycotting Russian restaurants over here.

[JoanofArgh]

Link to tweet

?s=20&t=oVHjaijURHjRZNv8_J5vAQ

Russian restaurants in New York City are being hit by cancellations, social media campaigns and bad reviews online after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, despite most owners being openly antiwar and many coming from Ukraine.



Magdi Semrau
@magi_jay
So many in the Russian-American diaspora are here because they suffered either during Soviet or post-Soviet rule. Those who have emigrated from both Russia & Ukraine have overlapping social, religious, & cultural communities. Many Russian & Ukrainian Americans stand together.



Putin and his henchmen are the problem, not emigrants trying to make a living ; many of whom emigrated here to escape autocratic rule.

[lame54]

1. Rebrand - Grand Opening - Zelensky's Ukranian Cuisine...

Lines around the block

[JoanofArgh]

2. Great idea!

[ck4829]

3. And they probably hate Putin more than you do.

[JoanofArgh]

8. Good point .

[Caliman73]

4. Many Americans CANNOT do nuance.

Our lack of education and knowledge about, well everything basically, but anything outside of our shores specifically, has been such an embarrassment.

Attacks on, not even specifically Chinese people (which I am not saying would have been okay) because of the belief that Sars-COV-2 came from Wuhan. Attacks on Sikhs because "they look Muslim" after 9/11. Now we are going after Russian-Americans because of what Putin is doing in Ukraine.

We need to stop reacting like frightened bigots.

[JoanofArgh]

10. I remember all of those instances. Ugh.

[rockfordfile]

5. It depends if they're connected to any Russian oligarch.

Other than that yeah.

[LisaL]

6. Oligarchs are not known for running Russian restaurants.

There is no big money in that.

[lindysalsagal]

7. Not entirely sure all the brooklyn Russians running restaurants and bars are innocent

I never go there, anyway.

[LisaL]

11. Innocent of what?

NT

[lindysalsagal]

12. There are gangsters of all nationalities in all major cities, but someone like me won't know when

it's a local neighborhood family business or a front for something truly scary.

[marie999]

13. If "gangsters of all nationalities in all major cities" could own a restaurant

does that mean we shouldn't eat in any restaurant?

[ForgedCrank]

9. FFS, these are

the people we should actually be supporting. If they are immigrants especially, they came here to escape that hell hole, and very likely appreciate the American way more than any of the rest of us because they remember from where they came.
It's not like the bill from the meal is being sent to the Russian government for cryin out loud. These are Americans!
I don't understand people like this. Hell, just a week ago I saw people wanting to deport Russian Americans and others of Russian decent. It's a little bit troubling to hear this stuff. It seems we haven't learned a single thing in 200+ years.

[Hugin]

14. Hence why I am careful to disparage Putin or the Kremlin specifically...

Instead of the broad brush of “Russia”. There are plenty of people there who are fighting as hard against the real problem or have been lied to to the point they don’t know what to believe anymore. They need a break.

[Bev54]

15. Unless of course people are aware of their support for Putin

then go for it.

[Hugin]

16. If they tell you who they are...

Believe them.

[mainer]

17. Americans are stupid

I remember when some people boycotted Chinese restaurants because of Covid, and Taco Bell because of some feud with Mexico.