Gregorio Amundarain, a Venezuelan deliveryman living in Washington, was the victim of a xenophobic attack on Wednesday while he was working at a fast food restaurant. The incident occurred when a cook, visibly upset, insulted him when he noticed that Amundarain did not speak English.
video/7416173443474803998" data-video-id="7416173443474803998">@gregorio.amundaran @Gregorio ♬ sonido original – Gregorio Amundarain
“If you want to make money in America, learn English,” the chef demanded. The Venezuelan, who documented the moment on TikTok, responded that he did not speak English. Despite this, the employee continued with the insults, demanding that he “learn English” if he wanted to work and drive in the country.
Amundarain, disconcerted by the aggression, tried to calm the situation, but the cook continued yelling, handing him his order in a contemptuous manner.
Closing of the business involved
A day after the incident, D.C. officials ordered the temporary closure of Canna Coffee Ice Cream Cafe Mocktail Bar Lounge, located at 1810 Florida Avenue NW in Adams Morgan, following a health inspection conducted on Sept. 11.
DC Health issued a summary suspension due to sanitation concerns, resulting in the immediate closure of the business. However, the cafe continued to operate in violation of the order.
“As of September 18, the cafe has been shut down with the support of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD),” a DC Health spokesperson said. Additionally, the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) had issued two previous violation notices, one in May and one in August. While details about the exact reasons for these notices have not been revealed, it is known that authorities are actively monitoring the situation.
The case has generated repercussions on social media, attracting criticism of the business and its behavior towards delivery drivers.
