New York Attorney General Letitia James helped turn up the volume Thursday on support for a Harlem restaurant that says it was forced to halt regular walk-in service after months of antisemitic and racist harassment. The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York and a lineup of city and state leaders publicly stood with owner Beejhy Barhany as she pivots Tsion Cafe into a space for private, culturally immersive events.
Officials and community leaders join the call
In a post shared by the New York State Attorney General, the JCRC-NY said it was "proud and honored" to stand with Barhany. The group highlighted city and state leaders who showed up in solidarity, including Letitia James, Julie Menin, Mark Levine, Denise M. Miranda, Brad Hoylman-Segal and Hindy Poupko. The amplified message underscored how advocacy organizations and public officials are rallying around the chef following reports of harassment, with several elected officials and community groups calling for investigations and offering support.
Owner says threats made dining unsafe
As reported by ABC7, Barhany told reporters the harassment, including threatening phone calls, made it feel too dangerous to keep normal dine-in service going. She told the outlet, "I don't want to be in danger. So you pivot," and said at least one caller threatened to "come and shoot you all." Those threats prompted the shift to an events-only model that limits access to pre-booked, curated experiences. Barhany said the new setup is meant to protect safety while keeping the cafe's cultural mission alive.
Where to report harassment
Community groups and officials are urging anyone who witnesses or experiences bias incidents to report them to state authorities. Per the New York State Division of Human Rights' Hate & Bias Prevention Unit, New Yorkers can call the No Hate hotline at (844) 662-4283 or submit a report online at dhr.ny.gov/report.
Rising hate crime numbers shape the response
The show of support for Tsion comes as officials warn that bias incidents have been climbing across the state in recent years. A report from the New York State Comptroller's office found that reported hate crimes have increased, and that religiously motivated incidents, particularly those targeting Jewish New Yorkers, account for a large share of that rise. The data that leaders are pointing to comes from the New York State Comptroller.
Legal and civic next steps
Advocates are pressing for formal inquiries and stronger protections for small businesses that are targeted because of their owners' identity. As reported by JTA, the JCRC-NY has contacted city and state authorities to seek an investigation into the harassment and has urged New Yorkers to show up for affected small business owners.
Barhany says she still plans to feed the neighborhood, now through curated meals and cultural programming, even as the transition highlights the toll harassment can take on immigrant- and minority-owned businesses. The cafe had already closed to walk-ins, and JNS and other outlets have additional coverage of the owner's plans.
