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| Behind the Counter, a New Political Force Takes On The New York Post and Trump | Behind the Counter, a New Political Force Takes On The New York Post and Trump |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] | [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] |
| Stepping into his Brooklyn bodega, Mohammed Almuntaser recalled how his heart sank. Staring up at him from the entryway was a copy of The New York Post, with a picture of the World Trade Center in flames on the cover and a headline attacking a Muslim member of Congress, Ilhan Omar. | Stepping into his Brooklyn bodega, Mohammed Almuntaser recalled how his heart sank. Staring up at him from the entryway was a copy of The New York Post, with a picture of the World Trade Center in flames on the cover and a headline attacking a Muslim member of Congress, Ilhan Omar. |
| “It was disgusting. It was racist. I couldn’t believe this racist thing was sitting at my store,” said Mr. Almuntaser, 29, who owns four bodegas in the city. “The very next day, I told everyone who works at my stores not to accept the paper.” | “It was disgusting. It was racist. I couldn’t believe this racist thing was sitting at my store,” said Mr. Almuntaser, 29, who owns four bodegas in the city. “The very next day, I told everyone who works at my stores not to accept the paper.” |
| He was not alone, and a boycott of The Post began. | |
| Over the last 20 years, Yemeni-Americans have established a foothold in New York’s network of bodegas — small convenience stores offering coffee, groceries and knickknacks. | Over the last 20 years, Yemeni-Americans have established a foothold in New York’s network of bodegas — small convenience stores offering coffee, groceries and knickknacks. |
| And now, they are increasingly trying to organize themselves to channel their economic power into political influence. | And now, they are increasingly trying to organize themselves to channel their economic power into political influence. |
| Though Yemeni-American bodega owners first became politically active after the Sept. 11 attacks, they have become more vocal defenders of New York’s Muslim-American community since President Trump took office. | Though Yemeni-American bodega owners first became politically active after the Sept. 11 attacks, they have become more vocal defenders of New York’s Muslim-American community since President Trump took office. |
| In 2017, Yemeni-American bodega owners closed their shops for a day and rallied in Downtown Brooklyn against Mr. Trump’s Muslim travel ban, which separated some Yemeni husbands in New York from wives and children abroad. | In 2017, Yemeni-American bodega owners closed their shops for a day and rallied in Downtown Brooklyn against Mr. Trump’s Muslim travel ban, which separated some Yemeni husbands in New York from wives and children abroad. |
| After The Post cover was published on April 11, the community’s two-year-old trade association, the Yemeni American Merchant Association (YAMA), again called for action. | |
| The association asked Yemeni-American bodega owners in the city to stop selling The Post until it issues an apology to Ms. Omar and Muslim-Americans in New York. Of the roughly 10,000 bodegas in the city, YAMA estimated that between 4,000 and 6,000 are owned by Yemeni-Americans. | |
| “We have the power and tools to do something about this. We have thousands of stores which, from an economic perspective, can make an impact,” said Rabyaah Althaibani, a Yemeni-American organizer and member of YAMA. | “We have the power and tools to do something about this. We have thousands of stores which, from an economic perspective, can make an impact,” said Rabyaah Althaibani, a Yemeni-American organizer and member of YAMA. |
| The Post declined to comment on the criticism of the cover and the boycott, including whether it has had an impact on sales of the newspaper. | |
| The Post cover said, “Here’s your something. 2,977 people dead by terrorism,” a gibe at Ms. Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, in response to a comment that she made about the Sept. 11 attacks that her supporters have said was misconstrued. | |
| The Yemeni-American bodega owners expressed concern that the provocative imagery of the World Trade Centers in flames could trigger violence against Muslims in New York — a fear they say has been more pronounced in the community since Mr. Trump was elected. | |
| “They are propagating hate and they don’t care what the outcome is, they don't realize the magnitude of the hate they are spreading,” said Husam Kaid, 19, who works part time at his family’s bodega in Midtown. | |
| Still, the Yemeni-American bodega owners are not united over using their economic power to boycott The Post. | Still, the Yemeni-American bodega owners are not united over using their economic power to boycott The Post. |
| Some said they were concerned that Yemeni-Americans could face repercussions for becoming the face of protest against a conservative news outlet owned by Rupert Murdoch. | Some said they were concerned that Yemeni-Americans could face repercussions for becoming the face of protest against a conservative news outlet owned by Rupert Murdoch. |
| “If the bodega becomes the symbol of such a struggle, it’s not far-fetched to see Yemeni bodega owners in Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi — in unfriendly states — being targeted with violence. The store could become the target before the mosque,” said Zaid Nagi, 37, former vice president of the Yemeni American Merchants Association and a co-owner of a bodega in the Bronx. | “If the bodega becomes the symbol of such a struggle, it’s not far-fetched to see Yemeni bodega owners in Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi — in unfriendly states — being targeted with violence. The store could become the target before the mosque,” said Zaid Nagi, 37, former vice president of the Yemeni American Merchants Association and a co-owner of a bodega in the Bronx. |
| Yemeni immigrants, many of whom lost their jobs in steel factories across the United States during the industry’s decline, began flocking to New York City in the 1950s. They soon adopted the stretches of streets around Downtown Brooklyn as their own, with Atlantic Avenue and Court Street in Brooklyn Heights their primary meeting points. | Yemeni immigrants, many of whom lost their jobs in steel factories across the United States during the industry’s decline, began flocking to New York City in the 1950s. They soon adopted the stretches of streets around Downtown Brooklyn as their own, with Atlantic Avenue and Court Street in Brooklyn Heights their primary meeting points. |
| “Every kid back in our town in Yemen knows the names ‘Court Street’ and ‘Atlantic Avenue’ even before they even know where New York City is on a map,” said Ibraham Qatabi, a Yemeni activist in Brooklyn. | “Every kid back in our town in Yemen knows the names ‘Court Street’ and ‘Atlantic Avenue’ even before they even know where New York City is on a map,” said Ibraham Qatabi, a Yemeni activist in Brooklyn. |
| Grocery stores offering spices and gossip from the old country sprang up around the neighborhood. They were stocked with goods on ships coming from Aden, a port in Yemen, which also carried more Yemeni immigrants to New York. | Grocery stores offering spices and gossip from the old country sprang up around the neighborhood. They were stocked with goods on ships coming from Aden, a port in Yemen, which also carried more Yemeni immigrants to New York. |
| The business of corner stores became the business of choice for many Yemeni immigrants, though they preferred calling them delis or convenience stores rather than the Spanish word, bodega, that came to be used for these mini-marts. | The business of corner stores became the business of choice for many Yemeni immigrants, though they preferred calling them delis or convenience stores rather than the Spanish word, bodega, that came to be used for these mini-marts. |
| “People would come here from Yemen and start working in their relative’s grocery store and they would learn the business, and then go out and start their own grocery store and it kept growing like that,” said Nasser Qatabi, 68, one of the first Yemeni real estate moguls in Brooklyn. | “People would come here from Yemen and start working in their relative’s grocery store and they would learn the business, and then go out and start their own grocery store and it kept growing like that,” said Nasser Qatabi, 68, one of the first Yemeni real estate moguls in Brooklyn. |
| One recent morning in Mr. Almuntaser’s bodega on Bond Street in Brooklyn, construction workers, teachers and passers-by slipped through the open door to his shop, buying gum, cigarettes and soda from the two aisles of overstocked shelves. | One recent morning in Mr. Almuntaser’s bodega on Bond Street in Brooklyn, construction workers, teachers and passers-by slipped through the open door to his shop, buying gum, cigarettes and soda from the two aisles of overstocked shelves. |
| “I like to think this place is more than just a bodega — people don’t come here just to buy things,” Mr. Almuntaser said. “They come in because they feel comfortable here, they feel comfortable with me and we treat everyone well because we know them. I grew up a block away. This is my neighborhood.” | “I like to think this place is more than just a bodega — people don’t come here just to buy things,” Mr. Almuntaser said. “They come in because they feel comfortable here, they feel comfortable with me and we treat everyone well because we know them. I grew up a block away. This is my neighborhood.” |
| Some remnants of little Yemen still dot the gentrified landscape around Downtown Brooklyn near Atlantic Avenue. | Some remnants of little Yemen still dot the gentrified landscape around Downtown Brooklyn near Atlantic Avenue. |
| Sandwiched between a Barneys New York and an Urban Outfitters on Atlantic Avenue, the two Yemeni restaurants left on this stretch of pavement bustle with customers each night, the aroma of lamb broth and warm fava beans mashed into foul wafting onto their stoops. | Sandwiched between a Barneys New York and an Urban Outfitters on Atlantic Avenue, the two Yemeni restaurants left on this stretch of pavement bustle with customers each night, the aroma of lamb broth and warm fava beans mashed into foul wafting onto their stoops. |
| But as the prices of real estate around Downtown Brooklyn rose, many Yemeni-Americans sold the buildings they owned in the neighborhood and moved their stores into other parts of the city. Today, Yemeni-owned bodegas are sprinkled throughout every borough of New York. | But as the prices of real estate around Downtown Brooklyn rose, many Yemeni-Americans sold the buildings they owned in the neighborhood and moved their stores into other parts of the city. Today, Yemeni-owned bodegas are sprinkled throughout every borough of New York. |
| “I started working with my dad in his store when I was 13, and from then until now we’ve expanded into like five stores throughout Brooklyn and in Queens,” said Zaid Ali, 36. “This is a family business, it’s a tradition, so we will keep passing it on through the family.” | “I started working with my dad in his store when I was 13, and from then until now we’ve expanded into like five stores throughout Brooklyn and in Queens,” said Zaid Ali, 36. “This is a family business, it’s a tradition, so we will keep passing it on through the family.” |