The response to the discovery of a "No Muslims" sign on a chalkboard in front of Queensland, Australia's Eagles Nest Bar and Grill was also heard this morning on national Australian television, as "Kochie's Angels", from the Sunrise program, continued the compassion of the #illridewithyou online campaign.
Sunrise host Kylie Gillies was particularly notable, as her son received the assistance of a Muslim doctor on the weekend, and she spoke of the positive experience willingly.
The sign, the entire contents of which read: "2000 years ago Jesus Christ made headlines turning water into wine... the tradition continues... We turn money into beer (Sorry No Muslims)", first came to the attention of the internet-using public on Friday, after a passerby only known as "Kaez" shared photos of the sign with the "Boycott Halal in Australia? No Way." Facebook page. A friend of the owners of the page then telephoned the cafe to ask about the motivation behind the sign:
"A friend rang them and asked if they had a sign out front saying 'Sorry no Muslims'. He said 'Yes, that's right'. He was asked 'What's your reason for putting the sign there?', and he said 'Just, no Muslims'. When asked again "But what's your reason for putting the sign there?" he hung up."
The issue then spread across the global online media, including a UK website and an Arab news site, on Monday, but owners or staff could not be contacted because the venue is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. ABC News then managed to speak with owner, John Hawkes, who expressed exasperation on Tuesday due to the numerous calls that he had fielded, both at the cafe and at his home, which tallied beyond the 200 mark.
However, it emerged over the course of the interview that Mr Hawkes was weary but not overtly regretful about the sign, implying to the reporter that his actions were "in support of free speech and of a "patriotic sentiment". Furthermore, he commented on the robotic "sanitising" of thought "that is evident in commercial life around us". On Tuesday morning, former One Nation politician Pauline Hanson also opposed the condemnation of the sign, calling Islam an ideology rather than a religion.
Ms Gillies offered a starkly contrasting opinion to both Ms Hanson and Mr Hawkes, when she relayed the experience of taking her son to a hospital on Sunday. Ms Gillies explained that the female Muslim doctor was "the most caring, compassionate doctor that he [Gillies' son] has most probably ever seen", further praising her as "just wonderful" and "just delightful". Ms Gillies concluded that the "cafe should be ashamed of itself", and was supported by fellow Angel, Julia Zaetta, who said to host David Koch, "I think Pauline [Hanson] needs to learn to put the "L" in Australia when she is talking about our country."
The Eagles Nest Bar and Grill is located in the rural location of Longreach, which is in the central western area of the state of Queensland. The mayor of Longreach, Joe Owens, who presides over a population of around 3,500 people, informed the media that the majority of the townspeople do not support the sign's anti-Muslim sentiment.