San Francisco Activist Adam Mesnick Alleges Antisemitic Smear Campaign by Anonymous 'Gay Shame' Accounts

San Francisco, CA – Adam Mesnick, a prominent local activist and owner of Deli Board, operating under the social media handle "bettersoma," has publicly accused anonymous "Gay Shame local accounts" of orchestrating an antisemitic smear campaign against him. Mesnick's urgent call for justice, made via social media, directly challenged several San Francisco media outlets to investigate the identities behind these anonymous accounts.

In a recent tweet, Mesnick stated, "WHO ARE THE ANTISEMITIC ANONYMOUS HANDLERS BEHIND THE GAY SHAME LOCAL ACCOUNTS??? THESE SICKOS SMEARED ME WHO IS BEHIND THE ACCOUNT @sfstandard @sfchronicle @TheVOSF @SusanDReynolds WHO ARE THESE ANONYMOUS MONSTERS I WANT JUSTICE!!!" The post highlighted a growing concern among some community members regarding anonymous online harassment.

This accusation arises amid ongoing tensions surrounding the activist group "Gay Shame" in San Francisco. The group has been notable for its long-standing boycott and protests against Manny's, a local cafe owned by Manny Yekutiel, since 2019. These actions stem from accusations of gentrification and Yekutiel's perceived Zionism.

The debate surrounding "Gay Shame" has frequently blurred the lines between anti-Zionism and antisemitism. While "Gay Shame" has asserted that their opposition is not anti-Jewish, incidents of vandalism at Manny's, including graffiti with phrases like "Fuck Manny" and "Zionist Fucks Gentrifyers," have been widely condemned as antisemitic by critics.

Mesnick, who is Jewish, is known for his vocal activism on issues such as homelessness and drug use in the South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood, often documenting conditions on his @bettersoma social media account. His public persona has drawn both support and criticism, with some detractors labeling him a "white supremacist," an accusation he refutes. He has previously participated in public debates at Manny's cafe, connecting him to the ongoing controversies surrounding "Gay Shame." The specific details of the alleged "smear" against Mesnick remain unspecified in his tweet, but his demand for accountability underscores the impact of anonymous online attacks.