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A viral video revealed a security guard at Nellie's Sports Bar, a gay bar in Washington D.C., dragging a Black woman down the stairs by her hair, resulting in a fight amongst patrons and security.
Now, the community is protesting the bar to hold both Nellie's Sports Bar and their security guards accountable for their actions.
The viral video was originally posted on @mccanttammy's Instagram with 13 thousand views. It was then reposted to the Black Lives Matter DC Instagram account and now has over 70 thousand views.
The woman, Keisha Young, was seen being forcibly removed from the bar by security.
Since then, people in D.C. have protested outside the bar calling them out for their treatment of Young.
They chanted "Justice for Keisha" as security went in and out of the establishment.
Meanwhile, outside Nellie’s, a block away from the shooting scene in Shaw, dozens are protesting the business after… https://t.co/YhI2A2hD63— John Henry (@John Henry) 1623627982.0
Now, at Nellies, everyone inside is leaving. @DCPoliceDept is going inside. A lot of activity at 9th and U right no… https://t.co/M4cacN2UlF— John Henry (@John Henry) 1623628678.0
Young told WUSA9 this was all a misunderstanding.
There was an altercation in there."
"They were trying to get some other people out because somebody else brought a bottle in there."
"Somehow I got mixed up in the altercation because I look like somebody else."
"I got hit and dragged down the steps."
Young continued:
"I didn't do nothing wrong, and that's all I remember. First walking up the steps, and then getting dragged right back down the steps."
When asked what she wants to happen to Nellie's she said:
"I want them gone."
Keisha Young, 22, of Md., says she was the woman seen being dragged out of Nellies in that viral video on IG. When… https://t.co/5vfiz1syFf— John Henry (@John Henry) 1623631504.0
@JohnHenryWUSA @bubblybutfierce @wusa9 Oh that’s terrible . I hope that their business suffers— anitashaker (@anitashaker) 1623636493.0
@JohnHenryWUSA @wusa9 I'm glad ppl inside started leaving once they realized why ppl were protesting outside.— Justice Mirzakhani (@Justice Mirzakhani) 1623674494.0
@JohnHenryWUSA @BlackLGBTQplus @wusa9 This shouldn’t have happnd. Reckless incident, nobody should be pulled down a… https://t.co/dRjUS1OJU5— Dre Leta (@Dre Leta) 1623686061.0
@LetaDre @JohnHenryWUSA @BlackLGBTQplus @wusa9 Unfortunately Nellies has a history of treating its black patrons th… https://t.co/M1agLBu9js— Hassan Sayyed (@Hassan Sayyed) 1623705579.0
@AttorneyCrump I hope the name of the bar is Keisha Young’s Bar & Grill by the time you’re done. And arrest the security— joe king cole 🥁 (@joe king cole 🥁) 1623726886.0
NBC Washington reported from a conversation Young had with her lawyer:
"I feel like, even just separating race from it, no man should ever handle a woman in that way. That should never be OK."
Young reportedly left the bar with bruises, dizziness and nausea.
Since this happened, Nellie's Sports Bar released two official statements.
The first statement said:
"We were incredibly upset and disturbed to see the unfortunate event that took place at Nellies last night."
"We are undergoing a full investigation of the situation."
"At Nellie's we foster a safe environment, so events like this are completely unacceptable to us."
The bar then posted a second statement on Instagram.
They announced they are no longer working with the independent security vendor they hired for Pride events and are closed for the week.
All of their non-security staff are still being paid.
People continued to share their support for Keisha online.
@AttorneyCrump I'm so sorry for this young lady...so sad she endured this..thankful for @AttorneyCrump will hold them accountable— Lyndy (@Lyndy) 1623727849.0
@AttorneyCrump When I see things like this I would be that guy who came to her defense no matter the consequences h… https://t.co/LDoGeXFHjn— Cowboyherb (@Cowboyherb) 1623737216.0
@AttorneyCrump This is SO INFURIATING 😤😤😤😤😤😤 THERE IS NOTHING & I mean NOTHING she could have done to deserve this… https://t.co/W9uf2taLtB— Missy 💎✨🙂 (@Missy 💎✨🙂) 1623733943.0
@AttorneyCrump People bring bottles all the time. You shouldn’t be assaulted for that.— Bridget (@Bridget) 1623774959.0
@AttorneyCrump Just horrifying that this security guard would take it to this level of disrespect!— scoop newsworthy (@scoop newsworthy) 1623754500.0
@AttorneyCrump This is just absolutely insane, some of those “bouncers” at these lounges and clubs are just as aggr… https://t.co/VhGfJfchj8— CocoaButter (@CocoaButter) 1623759669.0
One commenter pointed out an incident at Nellie's back in 2018 where they flew the "thin blue line" flag representing law enforcement next to the LGBTQ Pride flag.
Reminder that Nellie's tried to get away with flying this fascist rag just a few years ago. They took it down but l… https://t.co/jXdvsoPJuV— Morgan Artyukhina (@Morgan Artyukhina) 1623634194.0
Nellie's learned nothing and called on the cops to intimidate protesters outside after their security ppl assaulted… https://t.co/ESVqI5i4I1— Morgan Artyukhina (@Morgan Artyukhina) 1623634878.0
Keisha Young now has a GoFundMe set up to cover costs of legal fees, medical bills and therapy.