The city of Boulder in Colorado Tuesday issued a statement condemning a racist incident at the opening of a new Chinese restaurant.
9News reports police are investigating a man who disrupted the ribbon cutting of Nana’s Dim Sum.
The incident took place in front of city officials who had gathered to welcome Nana’s to the community. Witnesses say the man directed racial slurs and anti-Asian insults just as young children performed a cultural dance.
“He did go away, but by this time, I was so mad that he was hurting these kids,” Winer said. “He was ruining this cultural experience. It was a grand opening, and it just wasn’t right on so many levels,” said Boulder City Councilwoman Tara Winer.
Fox31 reported that Boulder Chamber Ambassador Matthew Jensen intervened and lead the man away from the celebration.
Winer followed the man in hopes of getting a photo to share with police.
“He runs to me, he punches me in the face, and he throws me onto the ground,” Winer said.
She would later learn the man had a knife.
The Denver Post reports police arrested the man on felony menacing and third-degree assault charges.
“The City of Boulder denounces racism in all forms. Hate has no place in our community,” the city said in its statement. “More broadly, this case is a sad reminder that racism and hate are all too present in our community and across the country. We cannot – and should not – remain silent when we witness hatred, whether it is xenophobia against the AAPI community or increased instances of islamophobia and antisemitism.”
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