FORT GREENE, Brooklyn — Authorities have asked for assistance in identifying a woman accused of making anti-Black and anti-immigrant statements toward a woman at a Brooklyn pizza shop Friday.
It happened around 5:20 p.m. inside Not Ray’s Pizza on Fulton Street and South Portland Avenue, police said.
A 36-year-old woman was inside the pizza shop and attempted to exit the location when another woman entered, police said.
The suspect then grabbed a black pepper shaker, shook pepper at the victim and her son and made anti-Black and anti-immigrant statements toward her, cops said.
The suspect fled on foot, and the victim was not injured.
The victim had her 4-year-old child and 5-month-old baby with her during the time of the incident, according to police sources.
“We’re still in shock,” the mother told PIX11, adding that all she can do is reassure her young children that they belong and their voices will be heard.
The victim said the family was “physically assaulted.” She added that she used the a racial slur several times and told them to get out of this country.
The suspect pulled her mask off as she left the establishment and appeared to continue talking to the victim as she walked away, video footage released by police shows.
“We need to focus on the love,” said the victim and mother, who did not want to be identified in our story. “We’re all humans, all of us. We have to continue to stand together…against racism.”
She said since the woman told them to get out of the country, her young son has been asking her where they’re going to go.
The NYPD Hate Crime Task Force has launched an investigation into the incident.
Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).