The establishment is well known to the LGBT+ community in Brest (Finistère). But since Friday evening, the Happy Café, located in the very commercial rue Jean-Jaurès, has lowered the curtain. A decision taken urgently by the manager of the premises who discovered, amazed, that his cafe had been identified as a target by certain rioters on social networks. “We burn the PDs, let them die in hell”, “Explode the Happy Café, we must respect our religion, Allahou Akbar”, could we read in particular as atrocities on Telegram loops used by thugs.
In a message published on Saturday on the Happy Café Facebook page, the manager explains his decision to close the doors until Thursday evening. “I have thought carefully and I prefer to put my team, my customers and my establishment in safety until the appeasement returns to normal”, he writes.
A complaint filed in the coming days
Already anticipating criticism from some “who will say that I agree with them and that I am a freak”, he assures that he has been defending LGBT colors for nineteen years and that “it is far from over. “The bar is open to everyone, except idiots and hate,” Erwan concludes in his message, adding that he is preparing to file a complaint in the coming days.
Like many French cities, Brest has been the scene since Wednesday evening of urban violence following the death of young Nahel in Nanterre. They continued overnight from Saturday to Sunday, with the fire in a school canteen and 25 vehicles.