A restaurant caught in the crossfire of unrest in Minneapolis Thursday night has sent a powerful message to its followers on social media: “Let my building burn.”
Gandhi Mahal caught fire overnight. The restaurant is located in the same building as several other food businesses, including the Town Talk Diner and Gastropub, El Nuevo Rodeo and Addis Ababa, that appear to have been heavily damaged by fire. The restaurant is about a block from the Minneapolis Third Police Precinct.
Owner Ruhel Islam’s daughter, Hafsa, wrote the powerful post Friday morning.
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Demonstrators vandalize a car as they protest the death of George Floyd on Sunday near the White House in Washington, D.C. Floyd, a black man, died after being restrained by a white Minneapolis police officer. (Evan Vucci/ Associated Press)
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Police form a line on H Street as demonstrators gather to protest the death of George Floyd on Sunday near the White House in Washington. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press )
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Police wait in the driveway to the entrance of the Hay-Adams Hotel as demonstrators protest the death of George Floyd on Sunday. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press )
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A group of men defy a curfew in Minneapolis on Sunday to pay their respects at the makeshift memorial and mural outside Cup Foods where George Floyd died. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
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A woman defies curfew in Minneapolis on Sunday to pay her respects at the makeshift memorial and mural outside Cup Foods where George Floyd died. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
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Police advance to engage protesters Saturday after a day of mostly peaceful protest in Minneapolis over the death of George Floyd. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
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Demonstrators stand on the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol as thousands of protesters gather Sunday to demand justice for George Floyd as the Minnesota National Guard secure the perimeter of the Capitol building on Sunday in Minneapolis. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
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Jennifer Hauge joins in a protest rally at the 5th Precinct police station in Minneapolis on Saturday. “It’s important to come out and make sure our black brothers and sisters know their lives matter, and that George [Floyd]’s life mattered,” said Hauge. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
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Jorge Fernandez, right, is comforted by a friend at a rally where George Floyd died early this week. “Everyone wants peace,” Fernandez said. “None of this can bring peace. It’s heartbreaking.” (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
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Protesters in Minneapolis. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
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Protesters use milk to help a woman affected by tear gas fired by police near the 5th Precinct in Minneapolis. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
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One woman expresses her desire for peace and love. Despite a curfew, protests and looting went all throughout the night in various parts of the city of Minneapolis. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
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Protesters hold fists in the air in front of a burning car lot on Friday night in Minneapolis. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
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Protesters loot a gas station on the corner of Lake street and Park Avenue in Minneapolis. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
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Despite a curfew, protests and looting went on throughout Friday night in various parts of the city of Minneapolis. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
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A protester rides a motorized cart on Friday night through the streets of Minneapolis. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
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The National Guard blocks the road as protesters gather on the corner of Lake Street and Park Avenue Friday night in Minneapolis. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
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The National Guard blocks the road as protesters gather on the corner of Lake Street and Park Avenue Friday night in Minneapolis. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
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The National Guard blocks the road as protesters gather on the corner of Lake Street and Park Avenue in Minneapolis. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
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Demonstrators on the streets of Minneapolis on Friday. (John Minchillo / Associated Press)
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People run as tear gas canisters land near them. (Scott Olson / Getty Images)
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People attempt to extinguish cars on fire in Minneapolis. (John Minchillo / Associated Press)
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An Atlanta Police Department vehicle burns in a protest Friday. (Mike Stewart / Associated Press)
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Demonstrators in Minneapolis on Friday night. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
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A burning police car in Atlanta. (Elijah Nouvelage / Getty Images)
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Looting in Minneapolis. (Scott Olson / Getty Images)
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A protester yells at a member of the Minnesota National Guard. (John Minchillo / Associated Press)
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Protesters demonstrate outside a burning Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct on Thursday. (John Minchillo / Associated Press)
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Protesters demonstrate outside a burning Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct in Minneapolis over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody. (John Minchillo / Associated Press)
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Protesters in Minneapolis demonstrate outside a fast food restaurant that’s in flames. (John Minchillo/Associated Press)
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Protesters enter a smoke-filled part of Minneapolis’ 3rd Police Precinct. (John Minchillo/Associated Press)
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Protesters linked in arms demonstrate outside a burning Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct. (John Minchillo/Associated Press)
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Protesters stand outside the Minneapolis 3rd Precinct station. (Molly Hennessy-Fiske / Los Angeles Times)
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Protesters demonstrate outside the Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct, which is in flames. (John Minchillo/Associated Press)
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A protester douses her face with milk after being exposed to tear gas fired by police in St. Paul. (John Minchillo/Associated Press)
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A protester faces off with two police officers using less-lethal ammunition in their weapons in St. Paul. (John Minchillo/Associated Press)
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A person takes items from a liquor store in Minneapolis. (John Minchillo/Associated Press)
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A man breaks a window at a tire store in St. Paul. (John Minchillo/Associated Press)
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Bystanders watch as police walk down a street in St. Paul. (John Minchillo/Associated Press)
“Thank you to everyone for checking in. Sadly Gandhi Mahal has caught fire and has been damaged. We won’t loose hope though, I am so greatful for our neighbors who did their best to stand guard and protect Gandhi Mahal. ... Don’t worry about us, we will rebuild and we will recover.”
As she wrote the post, Hafsa said, she overheard her father on the phone, saying “let my building burn, Justice needs to be served, put those officers in jail.”
The post goes on: “Gandhi Mahal May have felt the flames last night, but our firey drive to help protect and stand with our community will never die! Peace be with everyone. #JusticeforGeorgeFloyd #BLM”
It has been shared widely across social media.
A leader in sustainability, Gandhi Mahal was the first restaurant in Minnesota to install an aquaponics system in its basement, and it harvested much of its produce from backyard gardens within 2 miles.
“I’m going to start small and show that we can really do it,” Islam said in a 2015 Star Tribune article. “That’s very important toward food security.”
