Drake coach dismissed, bar faces threats after man wears Hitler costume at Halloween party
A Drake University volunteer hockey coach has been dismissed, and a popular Clive bar is facing threats and backlash after images surfaced showing a man dressed as a Nazi at a business' Halloween bash.The images — taken inside Miss Kitty’s Bar — show the man wearing a swastika armband, an iron cross medallion, and a cropped mustache. In one photo circulating on social media, he raises his arm in a Nazi salute while posing beside two smiling women.One of those women has been identified as Jessie Rudin, a volunteer coach for the Drake University Hockey Club and former Bulldogs player. Drake confirmed Saturday that Rudin has been removed from her coaching role, calling the behavior “completely inconsistent” with the university’s values.“Drake University unequivocally condemns all forms of hate speech and discriminatory symbolism,” said Vice President and Dean of Students Jerry Parker, Ph.D. “Such behavior stands in direct opposition to our values of respect, inclusion, and integrity.” Kennedy Power says she was stunned when she first saw the man’s costume."(I was in) shock, just utter disbelief. This cannot be real," Power told KCCI.In a video Power provided to KCCI, she can be heard alerting staff about the man’s appearance.An employee responds, “It’s a costume.”Power said she received a similar response from the owner moments later, which she calls disappointing. “We’re seriously downplaying how big of a deal dressing up as a Nazi is,” Power said. Miss Kitty’s owner, who goes by E.J., but asked his last name not be shared because of death threats he's received as a result of the incident, said he regrets not acting sooner but insists the man was asked to leave.“I wish I would have just said thank you for bringing it to my attention. I’ll take care of it,” E.J. said about his interaction with Power. E.J. said he noticed the man at the same moment Power approached him. At the time, he estimated around 400 people were in the establishment, many in costume. He said the delay in his response was due to sheer shock. “I just needed to go in my office, clear my head and think about it. Then I realized, this guy obviously needs to go," E.J. said. E.J. said the backlash since then has been overwhelming.“I’ve had several death threats today,” he told KCCI. “I do feel like we’re being treated unfairly. This is my livelihood.”He said Miss Kitty’s phone and social media pages were disabled after the bar was flooded with angry messages. A handwritten sign also appeared on the establishment's exterior that read "we (heart) nazis."The Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines called the incident “antisemitism, not satire.”“Hitler is not a costume,” the organization said in a statement. “Free speech is not a shield for minimizing hate. We expect our community’s businesses and institutions to reject antisemitism clearly and immediately.”In a message to the group's community, the federation criticized what it called “a minimization of hate” and urged Iowans to reject antisemitism and the trivialization of the Holocaust. Rudin also appears on Easterseals Iowa’s employee website. The organization said the photo “does not reflect our values,” though it declined to say whether disciplinary action has been taken.Meanwhile, Miss Kitty’s said costume policies will change for future events.“We do not support Nazis and never will,” E.J. said.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
