California — A California woman allegedly assaulted a pregnant street vendor with her own cart after going on a racist rant in which she told the woman that she was bringing down her property values and ordered her to “speak English.”
The Simi Valley Police Department reported that Julie Christine Sanchez, 56, is facing a battery charge.
The incident took place around 4:30 p.m. on April 14 near the intersection of Torrance Street and Brandon Avenue in Simi Valley, a city in north-east Los Angeles. When cops arrived, they found Sanchez and the victim on the scene. Witnesses said Sanchez had knocked down the vendor.
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Sanchez, while walking her dog, “confronted the vendor over concerns about the vendor operating without a permit and allegedly selling unsafe food,” police said. The accuser “blocked the vendor’s path, leading to a verbal altercation.”
“During the dispute, Sanchez pushed the food cart into the vendor, causing her to fall and sustain minor injuries,” according to the police.
The vendor captured a portion of the incident, which was obtained by several media outlets, including Los Angeles ABC affiliate KABC.
“I told you not to come down this street anymore and I f—ing meant it,” Sanchez claimed. “You bring down my property values.”
Sanchez also told the woman to “speak English” and “get out of my neighbourhood,” according to the video. Bystanders appear to have intervened and stopped the attack before it could escalate further.
Attorney Christian Contreras is representing the vendor, who has only been identified as Mary, and has asked police and prosecutors to charge Sanchez with a hate crime. He also brought a civil rights suit against the defendant.
“This woman needs to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and we are going to hold her accountable in civil court,” Mary’s other attorney, Humberto Guizar, told reporters, according to local CBS affiliate KCAL.
Contreras also started a GoFundMe campaign, which has raised over $20,000 to cover medical and other expenses.
“No one should have to endure such violence, especially a pregnant woman who is just trying to make ends meet,” he complained. “Let’s come together as a community to show our support and help her during this difficult time.”
