Local Woman Caught on Camera Berating Employee in Racist Tirade

"I said very clearly that the filming commenced BEFORE she showed racism."

So you very clearly said something that only an extremely stupid person would say.

I was thinking the same thing. I would never have seen it coming but I was loading my groceries once and heard a clearly impaired and disheveled person screaming in the face of easily identified staff. It was a deep fear inside me that it would escalate that drove me to film it on my phone. Thank goodness the worst he did was spit on her shoes but I feared for her safety. He left soon after, bottle in hand as she sobbed.
I checked on her and she was never going to forget it but she was going to be ok. I deleted the video without sharing it with anyone.
Had he touched her, I'd have turned the video over to the police.
Again, I don't consider myself a drama girl but felt compelled to capture the moment in case it escalated.
As for someone earlier suggesting that any one of us take glee in watching it play out, I say absolutely not. Mortified? Yes

I’d be curious to know why the guy filming her decided to film. Very likely he was doing it as a precaution, in case the interaction with the restaurant employee went bad—and perhaps as a deterrent to violent behavior. I assume that if it had all worked out nicely, he would have deleted the recording. But when she went racist on him, he decided to post it.

He didn’t shame her, she shamed herself.

"I said very clearly that the filming commenced BEFORE she showed racism." - How do you know that? Where you there? Nothing in the video or article says she mentioned nothing about race before the video started. And so what? Maybe, had there been no racist rant, he wouldn't have posted it as it was just an argument and not really "newsworthy." You're really grasping at defending this woman.

BENE - "So are you saying we need to ratchet it up and add more hate?" Nope never said that anywhere, just saying exposing racists is not a bad thing. If you want to treat them with kindness, that's fine, go for it. But perhaps the person taking this video was sick of being the target of racism and decided to publicize this vile rant. If you feel sorry for the racist, I can't help you.

BTW, did you even read my first comment? I said very clearly that the filming commenced BEFORE she showed racism.

sacjon you are out of line with that comment. You know quite well that is not what I am saying. So are you saying we need to ratchet it up and add more hate? Is that going to make people less racist? I don't know what your goal is, but my goal is to stop the violence and hatred, not to show how superior I am. The best way to show someone what a fool they are? Treat them with kindness. Then they feel shamed acting the way they are and might actually change. Adding more hate for the haters? How's that workin out for this country?

BENE - yeah, from now on let's give ranting, out of control racists big hugs and maybe a sweet whisper of love in their ears? Poor things don't know any better.

CELESTEBARBER wants us to feel bad for the white, well-dressed crazy lady spewing racism. I'm not sure why you think you are the arbiter of content on Edhat.

I don't think she's saying she is in 'control' of SB. But it is a passionate stance about using this platform to shame people. The edhat content editors are usually way more conservative on what they let go on this site.

I know it's hard for you to understand, Ms Celeste, but you don't control Santa Barbara.

So by "clearing" your name you're basically saying that you are entitled to free speech but edhat and its commenters are not?

I am happy to correct the Pledge incident before the Board of Trustees, SBCC (Jan. 2019). I sued the college, at my own expense, because the California Brown Act was violated by members of the audience, all faculty. Public Comment is a right in this state. The attempt was made to silence me and disrupt the meeting. That's against the law. The college's attorneys agreed, and why we did not need to go to court. I never asked for money, nor did I receive any money. The only issue was the violation of the right to speak without intimidation when recognized during a public meeting. The incident in question was triggered by one person, a white faculty member. I was there to request (not demand) that the trustees as a body reinstate the Pledge of Allegiance, as is common practice at government meetings, including City Council and Board of Supervisors, as well as School Board. The incoming board president, Robert Miller, had discontinued the practice on his own, a violation of Board policy. The previous week, I privately emailed him to request reinstatement. He declined, stating the Pledge was steeped in a racist history. I wrote back, again requesting that he reinstate the Pledge. When he did not respond, I decided my next course of action would be to take it to the full board during Public Comment. Normally, very few people attend the trustees meetings. I was surprised when I saw a large group of students and some faculty arrive shortly before the meeting started. They were there for a separate issue. I would also like to make clear that the students were respectful of my statement throughout. They stood quietly on the dais behind the board. The only action they ever took -- one that I would absolutely defend -- was when they took a knee during the Pledge recitation. They behaved with dignity, including for respect for themselves. I was proud of them It was the faculty that caused the problem. They attempted to incite people there, and to shut down the trustees meeting. Had that one faculty member remained silent during Public Comment, I wouldn't be writing this clarification here today. I'd have made my comment, told my father's story as a soldier in WWII, and my own story of living in
East Berlin and what the flag means to Americans stationed in far off places. The recited the Pledge, and left the room with a close friend and a Gold Star mother also in attendance. That would have been that. The Board of Trustees would then have voted to reinstate or not. I'd have accepted either way the vote went, because that's what we do in this country. I sued because no one has the right to disrupt a public meeting, especially during public comment. Those few minutes allow anyone -- rich, poor, old, infirm, homeless, citizen and undocumented -- the right to freely and openly address their elected officials and be listened to. It's a precious right. Months later, Nick Welsh asked me why I had contacted conservative news (I hadn't), and why I only spoke to them. I told him, "Because they called, you didn't." Nick took that to heart. It's one of many reasons why I respect his journalism and his ethics. For the record, I am left of center.

(◔_◔) The problem with that theory is that it's highly probable that this isn't the first front-line worker that "Karen" has gone off on. It's even more likely that she talks like that to someone everyday.

Trumpers be like: those protestors are terrorists! Arrest them all!

Trumpers also be like: That woman isn't racist, she's having a stroke or needs medication. Give her some compassion!

@Celeste, isn't this woman and the videographer exercising their First Amendment rights? Something you seem to know quite a bit about since you sued people because you were apparently offended at being interrupted while saying the Pledge of Allegiance claiming your First Amendment rights were violated.

The majority of people disagree with you and praise this local community website for publishing this. No one deserves to be spoken to like this, no one deserves a racist attack like this.

Celeste, based on your past comments here, opinion letters to local media, interviews with national media, and political stance, it's my opinion that you would not have the same comments if this woman was of a different race. Perhaps your empathy for such awful behavior is because you see a bit of yourself in her. Chat with a therapist, address your own fears of "others." In the meantime, the rest of us will be sure to call out racism and disgusting behavior when we see it.

shaming of a "stranger?" - the word is spelled r-a-c-i-s-t

I really wish everyone would stop the whole “Karen” thing. There are many thousands of people named Karen who are good, decent people. Don’t use the name as a slur.

Totally agree. When your first move is to post it on social, It makes it about you.

*No one*

"he could have mediated"

That sounds like a terrible idea.

One one shoved a phone in anyone's face. If you have to lie to make a point then your point is no good.

There are certainly moments when filming can be beneficial, like in the event of a crime or act of violence. However, people also need to realize that videos are just a snapshot of the event and lack context. As stated earlier, this woman has signs of mental illness. I don't see the value of spreading this all over the internet so people can point fingers at another "racist Karen". If this guy actually wanted to help the situation he could have mediated and tried understand what was going on. But no, instead he thought, "why don't I pull out my phone so I can share this with my friends and generate more likes". Her stupidly pulling the race card was exactly what he wanted.

MAST8, yes, you have a point, however, the trend of recording things in public may ultimately have a beneficial outcome, which is that people may be less likely to, for example, choke someone to death on a sidewalk if they know they are being or might be recorded. Also, people may be less likely to engage in horrible behaviors if they know there may actually be a consequence, i.e., public shaming, destruction of reputation, job loss, etc..

"You are trying hard here, right? "

LOL. The projection is amazing. "I didn't call him sleazy, I just FEEL that what did was sleazy!"

You are trying hard here, right? I did not call him sleazy. Please re-read my comment. I said it FELT sleazy. I can feel anything I want right? If you say someone's behavior made you FEEL BAD that's not the same as saying they are bad. My feelings should be free as should yours. I would not film him because I felt a certain way either. That would not be an excuse to film, no. A crime should be filmed, yes. But he weas filming before she committed the crime of a racist comment. But, I do agree I should have chosen my words more carefully. So if I could edit this, I'd amend it to, "it felt sad."

He started filming it "because of the words", as he said. Calling him "sleazy" is sleazy.

Bene, you are awesome. Our modern world needs more people like you.

""Karen" has, in recent years, become a widespread meme referencing a specific type of middle-class white woman, who exhibits behaviours that stem from privilege."

That's their fault, not ours.

"Karen" isn't a race. Why are you so dishonest?

3:32 - what's "wrong" with calling out a racist?

Two wrongs don't make a right. Except for leftist who deem their cause so worthy they give themselves pass.

PIT - "You're on your soapbox screaming how evolved and progressive you are because you're not a racist and this woman is, and yet you are no better than she is because the words you are using are racist labels." I'm not screaming anything, and I AM better than her because I'm not going on public racist rants. Calling someone a "Karen" is no where near the same as calling someone "one of four blacks" in SB or telling them to go "African American fishing" or whatever bizarre thing she said.

Regardless, do you really feel that calling someone a racist is as bad as yelling racist slurs at someone? Really?

Also...... https://www.mic.com/p/can-people-of-color-be-karens-too-yes-57788040

SAKJON: A quick google search reveals https://www.bbc.com/news/world-53588201 "Karen" has, in recent years, become a widespread meme referencing a specific type of middle-class white woman, who exhibits behaviours that stem from privilege. It is very much a race specific term. Even if it weren't, it's a label. It's name calling. You're on your soapbox screaming how evolved and progressive you are because you're not a racist and this woman is, and yet you are no better than she is because the words you are using are racist labels.

PITLOCAL - how is "Karen" a racist term? There's been "Karens" of all colors, religions, races, etc captured on video. It's not race-specific.

weird you feel bad for her, but don't fell bad for the recipient of the racist remarks?
"it made you sick how she must feel"? but you feel perfectly fine she was insulting people?
So basically, your a racist also and want everyone to accept this OTHER racists actions and feel bad for her?

yeah NOT happening.