Woman assaulted for speaking Swahili in America – VIDEO
A woman was attacked last Friday at a Minnesota restaurant for speaking to her children in Swahili.
Asma Mohammed Jama is said to have been at Apple Bees Restaurant in Coon Rapids with her cousin and children when a woman in an adjacent booth insisted that she speaks in English.
According to CBS Minnesota website, Ms Jama replied to the woman that she knows English but prefers to speak in her native language.
“I live in America. I can speak English but we prefer to speak our own language. If it bothers you I’m sorry,” Ms Jama told the woman.
HAVING DINNER
The aggressor, Marie Bruchard-Risch, who was having dinner with her husband is reported to have started abusing Ms Jama.
“Staff at the restaurant tried to intervene, tried to get them to move and get out of the way, but the suspect in the case finished her assault by taking a large beer mug and striking the victim across the face,” said Paul Sommer of the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office.
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According to Fox 9 News, Ms Jama had lived in Minnesota for 15 years and has been emotionally crushed by the Friday incident that left her with an injured lower lip, right eye and deep cuts on the nose.
17 STITCHES
She has since been treated and got a total of 17 stitches with a go fund me account opened in her name by friends. The fund has so far surpassed the targeted $5,000 towards her medical bills.
“…never had anyone even looked at me weird for not speaking English and wearing a Hijab. I’ve seen hate crimes on TV, but for it to happen to me — I’m really a different person, I don’t like it,” Ms Jama told a Fox 9 News journalist.
Ms Bruchard has since been charged with third degree assault which according to the Minnesota Statues if found guilty she will be sentenced to “imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.”
Her next court date will be on December 7.
According to Star Tribune website, this is not her first assault charge as in 2011 she pleaded guilty to a different assault charge.
