Fight Breaks Out at New York Restaurant Over Proof of Vaccination (UPDATE)
The Shrimp Parmigiana at Carmine’s
A group of diners from Texas were arrested after getting into a fight the hostess of Carmine’s on the Upper West Side after she asked for proof of vaccination, which is required by New York City law.
According to NBC, the fight erupted around 5 p.m. Thursday, and was broken up by restaurant staff and bystanders.
Footage of the brawl was caught on camera:
Carmine’s on the UWS says a hostess was assaulted after asking a group for proof of Covid vaccine to eat inside. “It’s a shocking and tragic situation when one of our valued employees is assaulted for doing their job – as required by city policies…” @NBCNewYork after football. pic.twitter.com/xrqZoNm74R
— Adam Harding (@HardingReports) September 17, 2021
Police told NBC that the hostess “repeatedly punched and her necklace broken.”
Three suspects were arrested.
As of September 13, New York City implemented a vaccine mandate that requires proof of vaccination to eat inside at restaurants, work out at gyms, and attend performances.
UPDATE: According to the New York Times, the three women initially accused of attacking the hostess after she asked for their vaccine information actually provided their vaccine cards. Instead, the fight erupted after two men joined their party without showing documentation.
On top of that, a lawyer representing one of the women alleged that the hostess used a racial slur, which started the fight.
According to the Times:
But on Saturday, lawyers for both Carmine’s and the women said that the three women had, in fact, provided documentation of Covid vaccinations. The altercation began after two men who joined their party several minutes later were unable to provide proof, the lawyers for both sides said.
Security camera footage reviewed by The New York Times shows three women, who were with several other people, being ushered into the restaurant after showing documentation near the entrance. Several minutes later, three men arrive to join the group, but only one of the three shows a vaccination card, lawyers for both sides said. A short time later, after the three women, who are Black, have joined the men outside, the fight breaks out.
Justin Moore, a lawyer who represents one of the women, Kaeita Nkeenge Rankin, said that the hostess used a racial slur and spoke condescendingly to the patrons, suggesting that their vaccination cards were fake. He also said the Texas women claim that the hostess assaulted them.
“The hostess begins spouting out derogatory comments, and speaking with two of the women; they claim that the N-word is being spewed out” Mr. Moore said in an interview. “They also heard the hostess say, ‘Yeah, you guys can leave my restaurant,’ or something very aggressive like that. 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.’”
A lawyer representing Carmine’s denied that “race was an issue” in the fight.
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