September 11: Anti-American Arabs at Dunkin' Donuts
Netlore Archive: Email tale alleges that Arab employees of Dunkin' Donuts were seen openly celebrating and/or defacing the American flag after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Description: Email rumor
Circulating since: Sep. 2001
Status: False
Example #1:
Email contributed by Sondra B., Sep. 19, 2001:
|
Attention all Americans: Boycott Dunkin Donuts!! In Cedar Grove, NJ, a customer saw the owner of a Dunkin Donuts store burn the U.S. flag. In another Dunkin Donuts store in Little Falls, a customer saw a U.S. flag on the floor with Arabic writing all over it. We are starting a nationwide boycott of all Dunkin Donuts. Please make sure this gets passed on to all fellow Americans during this time of tragedy. We Americans need to stick together and make these horrible people understand what country they are living in and how good they used to have it when we supported them. Numerous fastfood companies are at Ground Zero, giving away free food to volunteers. Where is Dunkin Donuts in all of this? Boycott Dunkin Donuts!!!!!! Pass it on. |
Example #2:
Email contributed by Dan D., Sep. 22, 2001:
|
Subject: FW: Dunkin' Donuts - DO NOT PATRONIZE!!!!!!! Importance: High I just got call from my brother that the Dunkin' Donuts right by my house was pad locked and had police posted outside. This is in Cedar Grove, NJ on Route 23 south (Pompton Ave)!!! When my brother pulled in to find out what had happened, a lady in a Mercedes pulled up and said that yesterday the owner and workers were outside with Pakistani Flags chanting and cheering about the World Trade Center Disaster!!!!! A man saw this and went home to get his American Flag. He came back proudly displaying the flag in his Pick up truck which he parked in the middle of their parking lot. Needless to say that a ruckus ensued. The women in the Mercedes saw this and was devastated because she had just lost a family member in the World Trade Center Disaster that these people were celebrating. She contacted the Dunkin' Donuts franchise immediately. I know I will NEVER go to that or any other Dunkin' Donuts again!!!!!!! P.S. This same heartless family also owns several Dunkin' Donuts in the area including the one in Little Falls |
Analysis: These and similar rumors targeting businesses in cities and towns across the U.S. ran rampant in the weeks following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Despite the fact that no evidence has ever been uncovered to substantiate them, "9/11 sympathizer" stories remain in circulation even today (in the late-2000s), accompanied by calls for patriotic citizens to boycott targeted companies.
In the case of the Dunkin' Donuts location in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, the charges were duly investigated and found to be false. The store was never "padlocked," as one of the emails claims, nor were police posted outside. The police did examine store surveillance tapes from the day in question and saw no untoward behavior on the part of the employees. Sadly, by the time this rumor was debunked in the press, three of those employees had received threats of violence.
Divisive rumors born of anger, prejudice and fear are inevitable in times of crisis and confusion, sociologists tell us, because they give people a sense of control — however illusory — by making it seem as though there are enemies among us who can be easily identified and rooted out. In the end, however, any comfort these feelings confer is outweighed by the harm they do by sowing disunity and endangering innocent people's livelihoods, if not their lives.
Official statement from Dunkin' Donuts Inc.:
Since September 11, there have been a number of incidents in which the patriotism of Dunkin' Donuts franchisees or their employees have been questioned.Some allegations have claimed employees celebrated news of the terrorist attacks. Dunkin' Donuts has investigated such claims by contacting franchisees, reviewing shop videotapes, and contacting consumers where possible. We have typically found that consumers making these allegations have not in fact witnessed an incident, but are merely repeating rumors created by others.
Other allegations have claimed shop owners declined to display the American flag or failed to do so quickly enough. Dunkin' Donuts Inc. supports franchisees in their decision to display the American flag. As each shop is independently owned and operated, decisions about the time and manner in which the American flag is displayed are made by each franchisee.
In all instances in which patriotism issues have been raised, the targets of such allegations have been franchisees or employees whose appearance or name is ethnic. They come from cultures as diverse as Pakistan, Morocco, India, and Portugal.
Dunkin' Donuts would ask those who are spreading such rumors to stop and think about their actions, which we believe do not serve our nation's interest. It is important in the wake of the terrorist attacks that all Americans should be careful not to allow gut feelings or emotions to affect their actions, especially toward people of different ethnic, religious, or cultural backgrounds.
Share This Article
Sources and further reading:
Scares, Hoaxes and False Alarms
Bergen Record, 14 September 2001Budweiser vs. the Arabs Who Laughed on 9/11
From the Netlore Archive
Last updated: 11/03/09
