New Yorkers Show Support to Egyptian Food Vendor Following Harassment

In a recently published video that has went viral over the past few days, a former US official, Stuart Seldowitz - who served on the Obama administration as deputy director of the US State Department's Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs - was recorded verbally harassing an Egyptian halal street food cart vendor on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

“If we kill 4,000 Palestinian kids, you know what? It wasn’t enough,” Seldowitz is heard saying in one of the many videos recorded by the truck’s staff. Seldowitz was heard making Islamophobic comments at the vendor, and threatening to put his immediate family in danger.

In the days since the video was published, the Halal Food Cart has received an overwhelming outpour of love from New Yorkers from all walks of life, showing solidarity with the cart’s Egyptian staff and taking a stand against Islamophobia. A series of photos shows patrons gathered together over to eat on a folding table donated by neighbors. Additionally, a Go-Fund Me was set up with the knowledge and permission of the Halal Cart owners to raise funds for the affected staff.

On Wednesday November 22nd, Stuart Seldowitz was arrested and charged with hate crime/stalking, second-degree aggravated harassment, stalking causing fear, and stalking at employment, according to the New York Police Department.

Photo Credits: Street Vendor Project on X (formerly known as Twitter)