A Nashville hotel has been accused of religious discrimination after abruptly canceling a pro-Israel event.
Israel Summit – “A gathering of pro-Israel supporters who unconditionally support Israel’s right to be sovereign over all of Israel, including Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the Gaza Strip.” According to the event website — was scheduled to be held next week May 20-22 at the Sonesta Nashville Airport Hotel.
“In the end, Sonesta Hotel made the decision to cancel the event based on its corporate judgment.”
But last Friday, hotel representatives suddenly canceled the event.
The representative told HaYovel, the Christian group coordinating the event, in an email dated May 10:
We have received credible threats regarding the safety of your group, our guests and employees, our hotel and sister properties, and neighboring businesses. These threats were confirmed by law enforcement officials within the past 24 hours. As a result, we will exercise our rights under the force majeure clause in our contract and unfortunately cancel the event scheduled for May 20th to May 22nd, including the cancellation of any room reservations related to the event. I am sorry.
Monday, First Liberty Institute sent a letter to Sonesta It accused the hotel of “unlawful religious discrimination in public accommodations.”
Hiram Sasser, First Liberty’s general counsel, said Sonesta violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Tennessee Human Rights Act by terminating the contract.
The problem, Sasser said, is that the threats are “anti-Semitic and anti-Israel in nature and consistent with the hateful rhetoric currently being seen on some American college campuses.” This means that there is no sufficient legal basis to terminate the contract based on the contract. force majeure clause.
“Canceling gatherings based on religious beliefs is un-American, illegal and, frankly, morally wrong,” Sasser said. Said In a statement. “Sonesta cannot afford to succumb to terrorism in violation of federal and Tennessee law. If this hotel chain succumbs to pro-Hamas and terrorist beliefs, where does it stop? Will the hotels uphold American ideals? We have to make a choice between protecting pro-Hamas.” We hope the hotel reverses its decision quickly. ”
Additionally, Nashville Police Chief John Drake confirmed that the hotel had not received any threats. itself. Instead, the hotel was flooded with “external messages” asking it to cancel pro-Israel events.
“The Nashville Metropolitan Police Department is not advocating the cancellation of the meeting at the Sonesta Hotel in any way, and any inference to the contrary is erroneous,” Drake said in an email reviewed by Blaze News. ” he said.
“The online article’s claim that this police department expressed concerns that people were in physical danger is equally false. In fact, police department officials were asked to speak about the meeting and hotel management We actually met with people,” Drake said. He explained. “We want to let you know that, like other hotels in the city, we stand ready to help develop a safety and security plan for the hotel and provide additional support if needed.”
“At the same time, we are aware that Sonesta Hotel received numerous messages from outside parties asking them not to host the event. Ultimately, Sonesta Hotel made the corporate decision to cancel. The police department was never a party to the event. “For that decision,” he revealed.
Palestine Fula Collective Nashville – an activist group “dedicated to the complete liberation of Palestine from river to sea” – is the group behind these messages. According to the Jewish News Syndicate.
Last week, Palestine Hurah instructed supporters He bombarded the general manager of the Sonesta Nashville Airport Hotel with messages demanding that pro-Israel events be canceled and even created a script for supporters to read over the phone and via email.
The post claimed that event organizers and participants were gathering to “celebrate civilian deaths and recruit new Zionists.”
“Please call us relentlessly until this event is over!” Post demanded.
At least for now, the pressure campaign appears to be working. However, organizers have no plans to cancel the event.
“We intend to move forward with this event at a different venue to show these thugs that their unconstitutional and hateful acts will not go unpunished,” Hayobel said. Said. “Now, more than ever, it is important to publicly demonstrate that the United States stands by Israel unconditionally and will not be intimidated by pro-Hamas thugs.”
Dave Ramsey, who operates a business in the Nashville area, said: reportedly provided to host the summit.
Blaze News reached out to a Sonesta representative, but multiple messages were not returned.
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