A protest at a bowling alley over the owner’s anti-Muslim comments on social media has been postponed.
Jeff Kuhnle, owner of Twin Oaks Lanes in West Toledo, indicated he is willing to meet with Muslim leaders and organizers of the protest originally scheduled for Friday. Organizers and members of the Muslim community released a co-written statement on Facebook.
“After a great deal of deliberation and a last-minute meeting with community leaders, it was decided to hold off on the protest until next Friday,” the statement shows. “We've decided to accept the invitation that Jeff extended to finally meet face-to-face.”
Details of a potential meeting have not been finalized. Mr. Kuhnle has yet to officially accept, but the two sides have spoken. The statement also calls for the boycott of the bowling alley to remain in place.
Nour, a Toledo Muslim woman who did not wish to provide her last name for safety reasons, said about 40 people have worked on this issue all week. They met with community leaders for two hours Thursday night to plan their next steps.
“We decided to give the Kuhnles a chance,” Nour said. “They need to meet with us with their clergy and with our clergy, in a neutral public setting, within a week. If they don’t, we will continue with the boycott and have an even bigger protest.”
Mr. Kuhnle is under fire for about a dozen anti-Muslim comments he made on his now-deactivated Facebook page. The Blade obtained several screenshots of Mr. Kuhnle labeling Muslims derogatory terms, such as “muk-muks” and “towel heads.”
The bowling alley filed a police report Sunday after their phone and Facebook page were bombarded by angry residents. According to the report, threats were made against Mr. Kuhnle and his business.
Nour said they made it clear to the Kuhnles her group doesn’t support threats or violence of any kind.
“This is a seed we’re planting for a zero-tolerance campaign,” Nour said. “This isn’t just an attack on the Muslim religion, this is an attack on the First Amendment right to practice religion.”
The United Muslims Association of Toledo condemned the comments and welcomed open dialogue.
“Toledo is a designated ‘Compassionate City,’ ” the association’s statement read. “We live in a tolerant and affectionate community. We are proud of our values and U.S. Constitution, which we uphold. Anger and hatred towards others is not a part and parcel of the ‘American way of life.’ We respect the freedom of speech and expression, but stand against speech that induces hatred and violence. We strongly condemn insulting the feelings of other community members, and the community we dearly love and respect.”
Contact Jay Skebba at jskebba@theblade.com, 419-376-9414, or on Twitter @JaySkebba.
First Published April 27, 2018, 3:28 p.m.