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Schantz has yet to reach out to Young, according to Burrell.ĭuring the protests outside Nellie’s locals shouted “Justice for Keisha” and “Respect Black women.” They encouraged patrons to leave the bar and join the movement. She went to the hospital Sunday, and is awaiting test results. Young is now raising money for legal fees and therapy on GoFundMe. “I don’t think most people would think that their behavior was reasonable towards Keisha, nor would it be reasonable even towards the person who actually did bring the bottle, if anyone did bring a bottle.” I would say whatever their policy is … it definitely isn’t consistent with what the law is,” Burrell tells City Paper. “I’m definitely not sure what Nellie’s policy is.
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It’s not entirely clear from cell phone video whether more than one employee was involved, which is why the family is asking for additional footage. Immediately, the family is calling on Nellie’s to release any security footage or surveillance video from the incident, as well as calling on Nellie’s to immediately fire security involved. The family is also considering filing a police report. They believe Nellie’s is liable for assault. Schantz did not respond to City Paper’s request for comment on the status of the investigation, allegations that his bar has long treated Black patrons differently than White ones, whether he employs any Black people other than security guards, what the bar’s written policies are when it comes to asking a customer to leave, or whether he is willing to speak directly with Young about her experience at Nellie’s.īrandon Burrell, an attorney for the Young family, says they are pursuing a civil claim against Nellie’s. (Nellie’s disabled comments on Instagram Monday.) At Nellie’s we foster an inclusive and safe environment, so events like this are completely unacceptable to us.” It’s unclear whether the security guard that dragged Young is still employed at Nellie’s.
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“We are undergoing a full investigation of the situation. “We were incredibly upset and disturbed to see the unfortunate event that took place,” the bar’s social media posts read. Nellie’s says it is investigating the incident. When asked what she wants to happen to Nellie’s, Young told WUSA9: “I want them gone.” Young relayed at the protest that security dragged her down the stairs after misidentifying her as someone who brought a bottle inside the bar. This security guard condoned the actions of his colleague, she says. While she was speaking with various Nellie’s employees on Sunday, Taylor says one security guard told her that they are instructed to remove rude patrons the best way they can. If he cared, he would come out here and be concerned about what security done to a Black woman in his club.” “So we ask the people to protest and boycott Nellie’s because the owner, who is a White man, don’t care about Black women. “The owner of Nellie’s don’t care enough about Black people to come and make sure that his Black patron, who is Keisha, was safe and OK,” Taylor tells journalist Chuck Modi. Protesters later went to his purported home. Schantz was not at the Nellie’s at the time, and did not plan to visit, Taylor tells City Paper. While doing so, Taylor says she asked a Nellie’s employee if they could facilitate a meeting between Young and the bar’s White owner, Douglas Schantz.
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Taylor was only able to retrieve her phone. Nee Nee Taylor, a co-conductor with Harriet’s Dreams (a Black-led abolitionist community defense hub that centers Black lives and liberation in the D.C. The protest also served as an opportunity for Young to attempt to retrieve her personal belongings-her phone and glasses-from the bar. Outraged by the graphic footage they saw, locals used social media to organize a Sunday evening protest outside of Nellie’s.
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Video also shows a few observers, later identified as the cousins of Young, jump in and a fight ensues between them and security. Posted on Instagram early Sunday, cell phone video appears to show Nellie’s security personnel dragging a Black woman, later identified as 22-year-old Keisha Young, down the stairs by her limbs. (A lawyer for Young says security grabbed her by the hair.) You can hear patrons scream, “Oh my God” as they watch. The family of the young woman is also pursuing a civil claim against the bar. Video of the incident went viral on social media, and now some locals are protesting and boycotting Nellie’s Sports Bar located at 900 U Street NW. on 6/14: This story has been updated to include a statement from Nellie’s.ĭuring Pride weekend in D.C., security at a well known gay bar forcibly removed a Black woman by dragging her down a flight of stairs.