A Nazi sympathizer who was profiled in the New York Times last week has lost his job.
Tony Hovater, 29, was the subject of a Times article published on November 25, which described him as the ‘Nazi sympathizer next door’ – someone who would be an average Joe if it weren’t for his extreme political beliefs.
Hovater is a member of the Traditionalist Workers Party, which has been described as a white supremacist hate group allied with the neo-Nazis – something the party’s leaders deny. Hovater himself has taken part in two white supremacist marches this year and regularly posts racist memes on his Facebook profile.
Tony Hovater, a Nazi sympathizer who was profiled in a recent New York Times story, has been fired from his job at a bar in New Carlisle, Ohio
Hovater’s (center) wife (left and right) and brother-in-law were also let go from 571 Grill and Draft House after the article
The manager of 571 Grill and Draft House says Hovater worked part time as a cook for the past year
The Times article stated that Hovater was a welder, but readers quickly found out that he also worked a part-time job as a cook at 571 Grill and Draft House near his home in New Carlisle, Ohio.
After the story was published, the restaurant’s manager says that they received numerous complaints and threats about employing a Nazi sympathizer so they decided to let Hovater go.
His wife and brother-in-law, who also worked at the establishment, have also been sacked.
Hovater told the Times that the restaurants owners ‘decided to can me’ and that he’s decided to move ‘because of safety reasons’.
But in a statement, the restaurant said that Hovater himself ‘suggested that we release him from employment’ because of the mounting threats.
The Daily Stormer, a white supremacist website, is calling on its supporters to lead a boycott against the restaurant over Hovater’s firing
‘Due to these very disturbing threats, the employee who was featured in the article suggested that we release him from employment. We have done so and have also released his wife and her brother who also worked for us.
Hovater is seen above wagging his finger at a bumper sticker for the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights organization that tracks hate groups
‘We felt it necessary to fully sever the relationship with them in hopes to protect our 20 other employees from the verbal and social media threats being made from individuals all over the country, and as far as Australia. We neither encourage nor support any forms of hate within our establishment,’ a statement from the business, issued on November 29, reads.
Since Hovater’s firing became public, the restaurant has been hit with even more complaints and negative online reviews – this time from white nationalists and neo-Nazis who object to Hovater’s firing.
‘This place hates their White customers and promotes the rape of White Women. They will be closing soon mark my words,’ a Google reviewer named Josh Plewa wrote.
Others took their negative reviews to Twitter.
Other social media users praised the restaurant when they learned of Hovater’s firing
‘Firing people for their political beliefs is disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourselves, you’re scum,’ Twutter user Younger Z wrote.
The Daily Stormer, a white supremacist website, is calling on its supporters to leave negative reviews online, call the management with their complaints and boycott the business. A fundraising website for white supremacists has also raised more than $8,000 for Hovater and his wife as of Thursday.
There have also been comments from people proud of the management for firing Hovater, who say they’ll be stopping by to patronize the business soon.
‘Nice rotating selection of beer and the pizza and burgers are good. But what I love most about this place is that the owner recently fired an admitted Nazi sympathizer after reading an article about him in the NYT.
‘Lots of negative reviews have coincidentallybeen posted here and elsewhere; don’t believe it. Propaganda from a group of hateful dirtbags. It’s 2017 and we’re actually debating on whether Nazis are decent people,’ one Yelp user named Jennifer P. wrote.