A few weeks ago, a group of about 10 to 15 people, including Arab/Muslim families and friends, gathered at Patrick in Bachman to celebrate our Muslim (feast) Eid, something we’ve done at the cafe twice a year for nearly a decade. It’s always been a place where we feel comfortable gathering, sharing food, and honoring tradition. I arrived around 10:00 a.m. to help arrange tables as people came and went during the whole experience. Everything was going well until, suddenly, a staff member approached our table without greeting or explanation and told us, “You have to leave now.” Naturally, I asked why, and he replied, “We need your tables… , " Is there a time limit? I asked, Yes, when we are busy,” then walked away. As you can imagine, the group was quite shocked. The interaction felt abrupt and out of character with the hospitality we’ve come to associate with the restaurant. I did my best to calm everyone and encourage them to continue enjoying their time, but the moment left a lasting impression. I want to be clear—this is not about assigning blame or raising concerns about bias. Our group was diverse, and I believe the issue was more about how the situation was handled than anything else. As my wife pointed out, a simple, polite explanation would likely have led to a very different outcome—and cooperation on our part. I contacted the Owner, Patrick Bernet, over 3 weeks now, but he never acknowledged my email or my calls... I don't want to raise the race card, but his attitude is now on record...!

President Trump, in an address to the United States on April 1, claimed that he had achieved a victory over Iran in his war of choice. He is profoundly wrong. The United States has not only lost this conflict, but Trump has also vastly underestimated Iranian resistance.

There is no doubt that the current Iranian regime has committed reprehensible acts of violence both in the region, and against its own citizens. It fully deserves to be overthrown.

Nevertheless, Trump’s crude approach to the war has unwittingly created a bulwark of unlimited resistance, fueled by a combination of religious fervor and entrenched patriotism on the part of the Iranian leadership.

This will prolong the conflict for as long as the United States remains engaged with it.

Medea Benjamin is an American political activist who, along with Jodie Evans and others, co-founded Code Pink. She also co-founded, along with her then husband Kevin Danaher, the fair trade advocacy group Global Exchange