BLM Holds Protest At Restaurant That Asked For Vaccination Proof From Three Women Who Ended Up Arrested For Assault

A group of Black Lives Matter (BLM) members held a protest at a New York City restaurant on Monday after three black women allegedly assaulted a hostess who asked for their proof of vaccination.

Kaeita Nkeenge Rankin, 44, Tyonnie Keshay Rankin, 21, and Sally Rechelle Lewis, 49, reportedly assaulted a 24-year old hostess at Carmine’s on Thursday after asking for their proof of vaccination, FOX News reported. The three customers were charged with assault and criminal mischief.

Justin More, who is representing the three women, said that the Carmine’s hostess used the “N-word” while asking for their proof of vaccination and assumed that their vaccine cards were fake, according to The New York Times.

The protestors on Monday were chanting “F— you, Carmine’s” and “Carmine’s are racist” outside the Upper West Side restaurant, according to Fox News. The demonstrators also claimed that the COVID-19 passports required at indoor restaurants disproportionately affect black people.

“This vaccination card mandate to create more Sandra Blands, and more Breonna Taylors, it ends here,” protest organizer Kimberly Bernard said. “Consider yourself served. Cancel Carmines’s!”

Founder of BLM‘s Greater New York Chapter, Hawk Newsome, believes that vaccines are a choice and should not limit everyday activities.

“Listen, Vaccine is a choice, it’s a choice. You shouldn’t exclude people from everyday activities because they choose not to engage in something they have every reason to doubt,” Newsome said in a Tweet.

Carmine’s did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment, but told Fox News they deny any wrongdoing.

“Last week’s violence against our staff had nothing to do with race, despite a Texas criminal defense lawyer’s false assertions to the contrary,” Carmine’s said in a statement to Fox News.

Carmine’s explained that three of their hosts are people of color, who are required to enforce the city’s vaccination requirement for indoor dining.

“None of the attackers offered any reason for their attack. None of the hosts- all of whom are people of color- uttered a racial slur,” Carmine’s said. “None of the attackers mentioned anything about race to our managers, staff, or the police who arrested them, and the Texas criminal defense lawyer’s false assertion otherwise is a deeply cynical ploy to try to excuse wanton violence.”

New York City announced on Aug. 12 that people 12 and older are required to show proof that they’ve received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for indoor dining, fitness and entertainment.