In a display of solidarity against racism and discrimination, the Manhattan-based Gotham Government Relations has taken a stand by offering pro bono representation to a halal street food vendor who was mercilessly subjected to a sustained racist attack by one of its own consultants, a former state department official. The incident has highlighted the growing tensions in New York City surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The lobbying firm made a firm decision to sever all ties with Stuart Seldowitz, who previously worked in the US Department of State's Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs and later served at the national security council during the Obama administration. Multiple videos captured the horrific encounter as Seldowitz harassed the unidentified vendor on the Upper East Side.

In one particularly shocking video that quickly spread on social media, Seldowitz can be heard asking the vendor, "Did you rape your daughter like Muhammad did?" In another disturbing instance, he callously declares, "If we killed 4,000 Palestinian kids, you know what? It wasn't enough. It wasn't enough."

Seldowitz further demonstrates his bigotry by mocking the vendor's lack of English proficiency, suggesting that his occupation as a street food vendor is a result of ignorance. He proceeds to make intimidating claims, insinuating that the vendor will be deported to Egypt and subjected to torture by intelligence agents. "The mukhabarat in Egypt will get your parents," Seldowitz threatens. "Does your father like his fingernails? They will take them out one by one."

The vendor, feeling targeted and abused, repeatedly asks Seldowitz to leave and threatens to call the police. While the New York Police Department acknowledged the existence of the videos and assured monitoring of the situation, no official reports have been filed yet. It is revealed that Seldowitz had been harassing the vendor for weeks, as stated by a social activist and Columbia University graduate who posted the videos online.

City & State publication was able to identify Seldowitz, who admitted to engaging in an argument with a food vendor. Gotham Government Relations swiftly terminated its association with Seldowitz, denouncing his actions as racist and reprehensible, inconsistent with the standards maintained by the firm. David Schwartz, founder and president of the lobbying firm, expressed his outrage at the incident and offered pro bono legal representation to the targeted food vendor if he wishes to pursue legal action.

The LinkedIn profile of Seldowitz confirms his affiliation with another firm, Northwestern Mutual, but they have distanced themselves from his actions, stating that he is neither an employee nor affiliated with the company. When questioned about the incident, Seldowitz claimed to be "blindsided" by his termination and expressed regret for his words, blaming the heat of the moment for uttering statements he now acknowledges were inappropriate.

The victim of this repulsive attack, a 24-year-old halal street food vendor named Mohammad, spoke to the Daily Mail. He denied provoking Seldowitz and recounted how the consultant had been questioning him for the past two weeks about his origin and instigating discussions about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Mohammad and his boss, Islam Mustafa, expressed their heartfelt distress over the incident, stating that they were deeply hurt by the offensive remarks.

As the news of this shocking incident spreads, it serves as a harsh reminder of the deep-rooted prejudices that continue to thrive in society. Gotham Government Relations' firm support for the halal street food vendor sends a powerful message against bigotry, and it remains to be seen whether legal action will be pursued in this case. The incident underlines the importance of fostering inclusivity and tolerance, even in times of heightened tensions and conflicts.