Santa Cruz restaurant shutters after reports of owner's contribution to David Duke campaign

A 38-year-old Santa Cruz restaurant closed its doors after a local website surfaced records indicating that the owner contributed to David Duke's Senate bid.

Outrage spread through the beach town last week after an Indybay story indicated that Roger Grigsby, owner of Chinese restaurant O'mei on Mission Street, had contributed $500 to Duke's 2016 Louisiana Senate campaign.

Duke is a white nationalist leader and former Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.

O'mei, a Chinese restaurant in Santa Cruz, closed its doors after a local website surfaced records indicating that the owner contributed to David Duke's Senate bid. O'mei, a Chinese restaurant in Santa Cruz, closed its doors after a local website surfaced records indicating that the owner contributed to David Duke's Senate bid. Photo: KPIX Screen Grab Photo: KPIX Screen Grab Image 1 of / 7 Caption Close Santa Cruz restaurant shutters after reports of owner's contribution to David Duke campaign 1 / 7 Back to Gallery

Records are publicly accessible on the Federal Election Commission website and a search reveals that someone with Grigsby's name also made contributions to the "Trump Make America Great Again Committee" totaling another $500.

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By Monday night, signs posted in the restaurant's window read:

"O'mei has come under attack. Slanderous and malicious internet rumors concerning this business, it's owners and staff have forced us to close for now. We will let you know when we plan to return to providing you with what many consider the best Chinese food in the area. Thanks for the last 38 years!"

Calls to the restaurant on Wednesday went unanswered.

In an email to KPIX, Grigsby wrote, "We are just a token in a much larger process of terrorizing white European Americans into silence in what has become known as the 'war on whites.' My campaign contribution was to one of the men supporting European civil rights."

Read Michelle Robertson’s latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.