For a few days, Minneapolis in the US has been the center of protests for people demanding justice for George Floyd, an African American man who died after being choked by a police officer.
These protests have involved burning down of many shops – one of them being Gandhi Mahal, run by owners of Bangladesh-origin.
And their response is now winning the internet.
Standing with the community and extending full support in this fight against rcaism, the restaurant owners said in a Facebook post:
Gandhi Mahal may have felt the flames last night, but our firey drive to help protect and stand with our community will never die! peace be with everyone.
Written by Hafsa, the daughter of the owner Ruhel, the post also mentioned one of his heart-touching conversations over the phone:
This is Hafsa, Ruhel’s daughter writing, as I am sitting next to my dad watching the news, I hear him say on the phone, “Let my building burn, justice needs to be served, put those officers in jail”.
Meanwhile The Washington Post quoted him as saying:
We can rebuild a building, but we cannot rebuild a human.The community is still here, and we can work together to rebuild.
“We grew up in a traumatic police state, so I am familiar with this type of situation,” Ruhel Islam of the Gandhi Mahal restaurant in Minneapolis said. “We can rebuild a building, but we cannot rebuild a human.”https://t.co/FDKldlUAmX
— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 29, 2020
Their selflessness at this time despite a personal loss has been appreciated far and wide.
This is the response of the Gandhi Mahal Restaurant in Minneapolis MN after it was burned down!
— StanceGrounded (@_SJPeace_) May 29, 2020
"I hear my dad say, let my building burn. Justice needs to be served. Put those officers in Jail."
Owners are Southasian MUSLIMS
This is Solidarity. This is how you respond 🥺😭 pic.twitter.com/NJMbAPi1ZZ
Ruhel Islam, the owner of Gandhi Mahal, on the restaurant’s damage during the Minneapolis protests: “Let my building burn, justice needs to be served, put those officers in jail.” pic.twitter.com/TL2Sf7Pogt
— Soleil Ho (@hooleil) May 29, 2020
This post by Gandhi Mahal, I don’t have words. pic.twitter.com/JCiNJubew1
— Nate Pentz (@natepentz) May 29, 2020
This post is from the family behind beloved Gandhi Mahal restaurant says so much about the vibrant south Minneapolis neighborhood where #GeorgeFloyd protests are happening. pic.twitter.com/uKpofNx7Yn
— Colleen Kelly (@onecolleen) May 29, 2020
Show up for Gandhi Mahal when it’s time to rebuild. (That mushroom paneer is good) pic.twitter.com/Gn8SM8fVUI
— Tana Hargest (@TanaHargest) May 29, 2020
From Minneapolis businesses @MoonPalaceBooks and Gandhi Mahal restaurant: “Things that may be lost or damaged in our building are just things, but your life is priceless, just like George Floyd’s life was priceless.” People matter more than stuff, remember that pic.twitter.com/j3t80oKkmh
— Diep Tran 🧙🏼♀️ (@diepthought) May 29, 2020
People over property in action. I can’t want to visit Gandhi Mahal when they reopen. https://t.co/E0N1VOYly1
— Aisha Alexander (@AishaThinker) May 29, 2020
“Let my building burn….justice needs to be served” Ruhel Gandhi Mahal Restuarant
— I Can’t Breathe!! (@betterwurld) May 29, 2020
Respect 🙏💖 #GeorgeFloydprotest pic.twitter.com/BCv3tNnCwZ
What a powerful statement from the family who owns Gandhi Mahal, a beautiful restaurant that has burned down. pic.twitter.com/ucbjh1p9da
— Jason DeRusha (@DeRushaJ) May 29, 2020
This is the most loving response to protestors destroying a restaurant.
— Ethan Bearman, Esq. (@EthanBearman) May 29, 2020
“I am sitting next to my dad watching the news, I hear him say on the phone; “ let my building burn, Justice needs to be served, put those officers in jail”
Heading to Gandhi Mahal next time I’m in Mpls. pic.twitter.com/eqP1U799GG
