Twist in tourist melee
Vic accused of slur
A lawyer for one of the Texas women accused of beating an Upper West Side restaurant hostess for asking to see her mandated vaccination proof claims the worker hurled a racial slur amid what was “mutual combat.”
The accusation came as new details emerged about what triggered Thursday’s fight — and a Black Lives Matter activist vowed to protest outside the eatery.
Justin Moore, a lawyer representing one of the accused tourists, Kaeita Nkeenge Rankin, told The New York Times that the hostess at Carmine’s used the N-word.
“The hostess begins spouting out derogatory comments and speaking with two of the women. They claim that the N-word is being spewed out,” Moore said.
He labeled the altercation “mutual combat,” claiming the restaurant worker talked in a “very aggressive” manner.
“They also heard the hostess say, ‘Yeah, you guys can leave my restaurant,’ or something very aggressive like that,” the lawyer said.
“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 for Carmine’s denied that race played a role in the conflict.
“Nothing about this incident suggests race was an issue,” the restaurant’s lawyer, Carolyn Richmond, told the paper in an e-mail.
Meanwhile, although it was originally reported that the scuffle broke out when the women were asked to show proof of vaccination, lawyers for both sides now say the issue was with the trio’s male guests’ immunization status.
The three women left the restaurant, on Broadway at West 91st Street, when only one of three men was able to provide vaccine proof — and that’s when the caught-on-video melee erupted.
The three women were arrested and charged with assault and criminal mischief.
Black Lives Matter activist Hawk Newsome announced that he is planning a Monday demonstration outside the restaurant.
“Those Sisters @CarminesNYC had proof of vaccination! That hostess used the N-Word and Threw Blows. @NYPD only arrested the Black Women,” he said on Twitter. “WE AINT HAVIN IT!!! #CancelCarmines We Are At Their Door Monday.”