September 17, 2021, 10:39 am
A 22-year-old hostess at a well-known New York City restaurant on the Upper West Side was attacked by a group of Texas tourists, just for asking to see a group’s vaccine cards. This city-wide mandate is based on an executive order that went into effect earlier this week. Documentation of vaccination is required for anyone wishing to dine inside a restaurant.
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The party of three responded by assaulting the hostess, nearly knocking over the hostess stand, punching her in the face and body, and tearing her necklace off her throat. At one point in the video footage of the attack, a waiter from the same restaurant can be seen forcibly carrying one of the attackers away. The hostess was sent to the hospital.
The suspects have been charged with one count each of misdemeanor assault and criminal mischief. They have been identified as Kaeita Nkeenge Rankin, 44, and Tyonnie Keshay Rankin, 21, a mother and daughter from Humble, Texas; and Sally Rechelle Lewis, 49, a woman traveling with them from Houston. All three were issued Desk Appearance Tickets (DATs), and told to return to court on October 5.
According to the police report, the victim stated that she did get into a dispute with the above-listed defendants over showing their COVID vaccine cards. The defendants got angry and refused, then “struck the victim multiple times with closed fists.” They also snapped her necklace right off her neck. “Victim did sustain bruises, scratches and redness to her face and upper chest and arm.” The victim was treated at the scene by EMS, before being sent to the hospital.
The Hospitality Alliance, anticipating “copycats” or similar crimes in the future, is calling on NYC and New York State to institute harsher penalties for anyone assaulting restaurant workers who are trying to enforce this or similar mandates.
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Cellphone video showing the attack has gone viral, with people across the country (and especially in New York) showing support for the hostess who was just doing her job.
Of course, some found it difficult to overlook which state the trio of criminals came from:
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In a statement, a spokesperson for Carmine’s said, “It’s a shocking and tragic situation when one of our valued employees is assaulted for doing their job—as required by city policies—and trying to make a living.”
*First Published: September 17, 2021, 10:39 am
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