New Orleans Gift Store Gets Triggered Call From A Jewish New Yorker For Selling Adolf Hitler Figurines

Since at least January, Royal Street gift shop Black Butterfly Too has been selling statues of pro-slavery Confederate army figures and Adolf Hitler.

The sale of the Hitler figures, which come in a variety of uniforms and poses, came to light Sunday because of a tweet by Rafael Shimunov, a Jewish New Yorker who saw the statues during a visit to New Orleans in January.

On Sunday, Shimunov posted a recording between himself and a man and woman from the shop, in which he attempted to discuss his concerns with the Hitler statues.

“I wanted to see who I could talk to about reconsidering showing that kind of thing there,” Shimunov asked.

“What do you mean?” the woman says.

“Well, I mean they’re figures of Adolf Hitler. So ...”

“It's actually handmade items that we have,” the unidentified man from the shop replied. When Shimunov asked, "But do you think that has a negative impact right now?” the man from Black Butterfly Too quickly became agitated.

“Who are you that you’re asking me these questions?” he demanded.

Things quickly went downhill from there.

“It is part of history, sir. And you just have to accept it,” the woman said at one point before pointedly adding, “I feel very, very insulted … What religion are you from?”