40-Year-Old Man Arrested on Hate Crime Charges
US Police: "We Must Maintain an Inclusive Society"
In response to an incident at a hamburger restaurant in California, USA, where a Korean expatriate was subjected to racially discriminatory verbal abuse, the local police issued a statement pledging swift action against hate crimes.
The San Ramon Police Department in California announced on the 26th (local time) via a press release that they had arrested Jordan Douglas Kra (40), a resident of Denver, Colorado, on charges of committing a hate crime, according to Yonhap News on the 29th.
The police explained that the suspect approached the victims without any reason and made homophobic and racially discriminatory remarks, causing the victims to feel threatened.
The police stated, "We strive to ensure that everyone visiting our area feels safe and welcomed. We will continue to respond swiftly and diligently with legal measures against hate crimes to create an inclusive society where everyone can live, work, and visit."
According to a press release issued by the San Ramon Police Department in California, USA, where Korean visitors to a fast-food restaurant were subjected to racially abusive language, a 40-year-old man from Denver, Colorado, was arrested on the 26th (local time) on charges of a hate crime. [Captured from San Ramon Police Twitter]
Earlier, U.S. media outlets such as the New York Post reported that two Koreans, including Arin Gabriel Kim, were harassed while filming a vlog at an In-N-Out Burger restaurant in San Ramon on Christmas Eve.
At the time, Kim was filming herself eating a hamburger, so the entire incident was captured on video.
According to the video, a man approached Kim while she was eating and said, "Are you filming yourself eating? You are a strange homosexual." Then, when the man asked, "Are you Japanese or Korean?" Kim replied, "Korean." The man then asked, "Are you Kim Jong-un's boyfriend? Have you had homosexual relations?"
The man's hateful remarks continued, and Kim's friend responded, leading to a verbal altercation. Eventually, Kim tried to mediate, but the man said, "I will spit on your face," and left. However, he returned a few minutes later, threatening Kim and her friend by saying, "See you outside later."
Kim posted the video on social media, which garnered 13 million views and over 50,000 comments, attracting significant attention. Subsequently, the police began an investigation into the incident.
In an interview with local media, Kim said, "I was somewhat shocked after experiencing such an incident, but I am glad that both of us are safe now."
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