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Protests Erupt At D.C. Gay Bar After Security Guard Was Filmed Dragging Black Woman By Her Hair
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\u2019s, a block away from the shooting scene in Shaw, dozens are protesting the business after a video showed a woman being dragged down a flight of stairs inside last night. (@wusa9)pic.twitter.com/q8XSPtEpki— John Henry (@John Henry) 1623627982
Now, at Nellies, everyone inside is leaving. @DCPoliceDept is going inside. A lot of activity at 9th and U right now for a lot of reasons. (@wusa9)pic.twitter.com/k0ALT5HEwH— John Henry (@John Henry) 1623628678
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 I asked her what should happen next, she said, \u201cI want them gone\u201d. (@wusa9)pic.twitter.com/ZkwxnSWZqU— John Henry (@John Henry) 1623631504
Oh that\u2019s terrible . I hope that their business suffers— anitashaker (@anitashaker) 1623636493
I'm glad ppl inside started leaving once they realized why ppl were protesting outside.— Justice Mirzakhani (@Justice Mirzakhani) 1623674494
This shouldn\u2019t have happnd. Reckless incident, nobody should be pulled down a set of stairs. The security guard should be investigated and detained. Sad a long standing business is being burned down for a shitty employee. They need to rework their policies to ensure safety.— Dre Leta (@Dre Leta) 1623686061
Unfortunately Nellies has a history of treating its black patrons this way. These things do not happen in a vacuum, and it\u2019s probably time for it to be shuttered.— Hassan Sayyed (@Hassan Sayyed) 1623705579
I hope the name of the bar is Keisha Young\u2019s Bar & Grill by the time you\u2019re done. And arrest the security— joe king cole \ud83e\udd41 (@joe king cole \ud83e\udd41) 1623726886
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.
I'm so sorry for this young lady...so sad she endured this..thankful for @AttorneyCrump will hold them accountable— Lyndy (@Lyndy) 1623727849
When I see things like this I would be that guy who came to her defense no matter the consequences he dragged her by her hair like a savage he would have felt pain— Cowboyherb (@Cowboyherb) 1623737216
This is SO INFURIATING THERE IS NOTHING & I mean NOTHING she could have done to deserve this type of treatment!!!! So glad that people stepped in to help her Wtf was that security guards problem— Missy \ud83d\udc8e\u2728\ud83d\ude42 (@Missy \ud83d\udc8e\u2728\ud83d\ude42) 1623733943
People bring bottles all the time. You shouldn\u2019t be assaulted for that.— Bridget (@Bridget) 1623774959
Just horrifying that this security guard would take it to this level of disrespect!— scoop newsworthy (@scoop newsworthy) 1623754500
This is just absolutely insane, some of those \u201cbouncers\u201d at these lounges and clubs are just as aggressive as police officers and sometimes even more. Shoutout to the MEN who assisted her, good job!— CocoaButter (@CocoaButter) 1623759669
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 learned nothing: tonight MPD came to their rescue & "protected" their doors. What a joke.\n\nWe don't need racist gay bars in DC or anywhere! #JusticeForKeishahttps://twitter.com/NJNP_DC/status/979847004636483585\u00a0\u2026— Morgan Artyukhina (@Morgan Artyukhina) 1623634194
Nellie's learned nothing and called on the cops to intimidate protesters outside after their security ppl assaulted a Black woman, dragging her down the stairs by her hair. They only care about $ and that's where we should hurt them. #BoycottNellies #JusticeForKeisha— Morgan Artyukhina (@Morgan Artyukhina) 1623634878
Keisha Young now has a GoFundMe set up to cover costs of legal fees, medical bills and therapy.