A Texas woman accused of attacking a Carmine’s hostess over vaccine rules was called a racial slur before the incident turned violent, her lawyer told the New York Times.
The charge comes as new details challenge the NYPD narrative over what exactly spurred the attack — and as Black Lives Matter supporters plan a protest outside the popular Upper West Side restaurant on Monday.
The lawyer for the woman, Kaeita Nkeenge Rankin, told the Times the hostess used a racial slur and was rude to her dining party — all of whom were black — and suggested their vaccine cards were fake.
“The hostess begins spouting out derogatory comments, and speaking with two of the women; they claim that the N-word is being spewed out” Rankin’s lawyer, Justin Moore, told the paper.
“They also heard the hostess say, ‘Yeah, you guys can leave my restaurant,’ or something very aggressive like that,” Moore went on. “When Dr. Rankin hears that, she turns around and addresses the hostess. She tells her: ‘This isn’t your restaurant. You’re just a staff member here. Please address us with respect.’”
The city has ordered restaurants and other indoor venues to enforce a vaccine requirement for entry. A lawyer for Carmine's denied the allegation, saying the worker was trying to enforce the city's law.
“Nothing about this incident suggests race was an issue,” the lawyer, Carolyn Richmond, said in a statement to the Times. “The pandemic has added a key responsibility to the host position — insuring [sic] the safety and health of all employees and guests by checking for proof of vaccination in compliance with New York City law.”
The NYPD originally reported that the woman arrested in the attack — caught in a now-viral video — were enraged after the hostess had asked for proof of their coronavirus vaccinations.
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Security footage reviewed by the Times shows the three women had properly displayed their vaccine information and were seated, but the issue appeared to stem from when three men later arrived to join them at their table.
Only one of the men showed proof of his vaccine, according to the Times. After they were denied entry, the three women met them outside, which is when the fight broke out, the Times reported.
The three women were arrested on charges of assault and criminal mischief, police said.
Following the Times report, Hawk Newsome, a Black Lives Matter activist, announced a protest outside Carmine’s on Monday.
“Those Sisters @CarminesNYC had proof of vaccination! That hostess used the N-Word and Threw Blows. @NYPD only arrested the Black Women,” Newsome wrote. “WE AINT HAVIN IT!!! #CancelCarmines We Are At Their Door Monday.”
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