Three Texas tourists were accused of assaulting a hostess in an Upper West Side restaurant because she questioned their COVID-19 vaccination certificates. They claim that they were racially profiled, and they demand that the hostess be fired.
The hostess has clearly shown anger management problems. Unfortunately, her aggression and violence led to an incident that three Black women were being punished for. Justin Moore, a Texas civil rights lawyer, spoke about the incident at Carmines on Thursday afternoon.
Carmines' lawyer unambiguously denied the Texas womens' accusation.
Carolyn Richmond, a lawyer, stated that any claim that they were racially profiled was a fabrication, disingenuous and outright irresponsible.
Police claim that the three women attacked a hostess aged 24 at Carmines on Broadway near W. 91st St.
Moore claimed that Moore and the other women were already inside the house and had ordered drinks before the hostess began to question their validity of their vaccination cards.
Moore stated in a Friday news release that the hostess refused to serve these women and became hostile towards them. After being called out for racial discrimination and taken offense to, Carmines staff physically restrained her.
They were identified as Kaeita, 44, and Tyonnie Keshay, her niece, both from Humble, Texas. Sally Rechelle Lewis was 49. They are expected to answer the charges at Manhattan Criminal Court on October 1.
Moore claimed that the hostess was rude towards Rankin's group. The hostess lunged at Rankin after they decided to leave.
Moore stated that the hostess was apparently not well trained to handle patrols, has issues with Black women, and is a dissident for women of color.
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The clash was captured on cell phone video. It shows the Texas tourists battling with the younger woman. Witnesses and restaurant workers were seen carrying one of the tourists away from the scene.
Jeffrey Bank, Carmines owner, said that the hostess was treated on the spot but not seriously injured.
Bank stated that she was extremely shaken up. It's absurd and inexcusable.
Moore identified Kaeita Ranin as a Texas businesswoman who holds a Ph.D. Hawk Newsome, co-founder of Black Lives Matter NY and a member of the Rankin family, said that Lewis is Lewis' assistant.
Newsome said that they were racially profiled at Carmines, Manhattan. She plans to protest the incident Monday. Instead of arresting Dr. Rankin and her accomplices, the police arrived and arrested her.
Moore stated that Rankin and her party returned to Texas with their group. Moore encouraged her to get vaccinated.
Moore stated that the fact that people are using vaccination IDs to justify hostess acts is an insult to the policy.
An attempt to reach Rankin was unsuccessful.
This week, the city began imposing a vaccination mandate that requires people to show proof they have been jabbed before participating in indoor activities in the five boroughs. This includes eating out at restaurants, drinking at bars, exercising, going bowling, and watching a movie.
Businesses that do not comply with the law face a $1,000 penalty for the first offense, $2,000 for the second violation, and $5,000 per incident for each subsequent violation. Officials from the city said that the mandate will keep New Yorkers safe, and reduce pandemic anxiety.
Saturday's unsuccessful attempts to reach Bank or the hostess to comment on Moores claims did not succeed.
