Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that Texas restaurant OMG Tacos is banning customers who ask Asians if they have Coronavirus.
On an Instagram post, the restaurant stated that many of their Asian staff were asked by customers if they had the virus.
“We’ve had SEVERAL customers ask if our Asian staff members have Coronavirus within just the last week,” the post said.
“This is absolutely UNACCEPTABLE. We will not tolerate racism, ignorance or hate.”
The post added that not only will staff refuse to serve racist customers, but anyone caught displaying such behaviour will receive a lifetime ban.
“If you are racist, ignorant, aggressive, or threatening toward our staff in any way, we will absolutely refuse to serve you,” the post said. “You will also be BANNED from our establishments FOR LIFE.:
OMG Tacos prises itself on its diverse team but stated that it had “never experienced harassment back to back in a couple days.”
Holly Nguyen, a representative of OMG Tacos, said in a message, “we aren’t going to just allow these kind of ignorant comments that can turn into violence.”
“ Violence against Asians has increased since the coronavirus,” she said. “My parents are too scared to even step outside the house for a walk because they think they will get attacked.”
OMG Tacos has locations in Richardson and The Colony but plans to expand across Texas.
The restaurant group will stay open “as long as we feel the safety of our team is not threatened by racists.”
In related news, activists are printing the hashtag #HateIsAVirus on face masks to combat Coronavirus racism.
