Cell phone video capturing an elderly White woman's racist attack on another park-goer in Torrance, California has sparked outrage across the internet.
Among other verbal attacks in the rant, which lasted over a minute, was the following comment:
"Go back to whatever f'king Asian country you belong in."
The victim of the rant was stretching on a set of public stairs in Torrance's Wilson Park just before the incident, LA Times reported. The camera was already on because she had been filming her workout.
After the elderly woman collided with the victim—who exclaimed out of surprise—while the older woman descended the stairs the attack began.
The victim's friends posted the footage to Twitter, where it went viral, garnering nearly 200,000 likes and over 60,000 comments.
As the video illustrated, what began as angry comments about park behavior quickly devolved into clear racist feelings underneath.
"Listen to me. We don't play games here anymore. Next time you talk to me like that you're going to get your f** kicked by my family. They're gonna f'k you up."
"Why don't you go somewhere else where...you can go to a gym. This is not just for you."
And then came the racist pivot.
"Get the f'k out of this world. Get the f'k out of this state. Go back to whatever f'king Asian country you belong in."
"This is not your place. This is not your home. We do not want you here."
An additional tweet that included a screenshot of the text exchange between the victim and the woman who posted the video on Twitter elaborated further on the moments just prior to the rant that the video didn't capture.
@mynamegangg/Twitter
The victim, startled upon being bumped into, gave a surprised "Jesus!"
It was then that the racist attack began.
LA Times went on to report that Torrance Mayor Patrick Furey acknowledged that the city was aware of the incident and the police were investigating.
He made it clear where he stood on the incident.
"All visitors to our open spaces should always feel safe and free to exercise while practicing social distancing without conflict. Conduct like that displayed on the video cannot be tolerated."
Twitter was appalled.
@kellyfairchild2/Twitter
One Twitter user even found another ordeal involving the same White woman.
One of the women who shared the video came back to state a police report had been filed after another Asian family was accosted by the same woman.
The woman who was attacked released a statement that her friend posted to Twitter.
@rmtennell/Twitter
The ranting woman did not get the last laugh, however.
A gathering in that same area of the park was planned in response to the incident.
Racism is a real problem in the United States. POC have been saying this for decades.
Camera phones are only making everyone else see the problem now too. Maybe now it can be addressed properly.
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