(JTA) — Two Virginia brothers were arrested after they were captured on video yelling anti-Semitic comments at a man wearing a Star of David.
The incident occurred Monday outside of Hey Joe’s, a restaurant in the Appalachian Trail town of Damascus owned by the father of the suspects, Joseph Killian, 33, and Henry Killian II, 35, the Bristol Herald-Courier reported.
Craig Johnston, who reportedly was hiking the trail, filmed the encounter and posted it to social media.
Damascus Police told the Herald-Courier that Johnston told police he planned to buy marijuana from the brothers. Johnston maintains in comments on Facebook that he only stopped at the restaurant to eat when the brothers noticed his Star of David.
The town’s mayor, Jack McCrady, said in a Facebook post that while Johnston, whom he called the “not so innocent victim,” did not press charges against the brothers, the town did based on the video.
“Nothing can justify the hideous statements by those involved. This does not represent Damascus or our citizens,” McCrady wrote in the post.
The mayor said the restaurant is due to close at the end of the month.
The brothers were charged with disorderly conduct and assault, and have not been given bail. They are scheduled to appear in court again on Nov. 6.
Joseph Killian also was charged with assault and battery for appearing to strike Johnston or his phone during the filmed encounter. Police say that no drugs exchanged hands, according to the Herald-Courier.
In the video, the brothers tell Johnston that he “should be in a f***in’ Jewish oven and die like your ancestors.” They also call him “Jewish scum” and tell him he is not welcome in the restaurant. They also threaten to “come and find you later.”
Though Johnston reportedly removed the video from his Facebook page at the request of the mayor, it remained on a video streaming site and on Reddit, and was posted on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=o2j7p5XB6KM
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
