Tensions among US citizens are growing increasingly fraught, as the Trump administration continues its crackdown on unauthorized immigrants. While this can be witnessed in the many ICE raids that are happening across the country right now, there is also another issue that is becoming more common: public displays of xenophobia. In New York recently, an attorney was caught on camera angrily threatening to deport another woman over a parking spot, which is obviously incredibly xenophobic.
The heated exchange takes place on a side street in New York, and centers on an attorney who is attempting to parallel park his silver Toyota vehicle. The space is a little tight, however, and he’s struggling to park his car. Parked in the spot in front of his vehicle is a woman who is also entangled in the awkward exchange. Accompanying the footage is the caption, “Racist Attorney Threatens to Deport Us Over a Parking Spot!!” There has already clearly been some drama and buildup before the video starts, as a female police officer is involved, and is stood in between the vehicles and is overseeing the situation.
“Officer, she won’t move. Can you call your sheriff?” requests the attorney, waving his finger. The officer, however, is not having any of it. “No, I’m not calling nobody. Get out. Leave. You can park somewhere else.” instructs the police officer, curtly. Embarrassingly, the legal practitioner waves his arms, and has a brief meltdown at the police official, shouting, “Where? Where? I have three clients with appointments and I have to go back to New York! Where’s the paid parking?” In the background, you can hear the person recording giggling at the attorney’s freak-out.
“I have blood pressure. I work with these people. I’m going to get her deported.” fires the attorney angrily. This doesn’t sit well with the police officer, however. “Okay, okay. Go.” responds the officer, whose patience is clearly wearing thin with the elderly lawyer. The attorney then asks the woman to move her car forward, but the policewoman replies, “She don’t want to.”
Next, the attorney then claims that the woman “almost hit me” with her vehicle, though the officer clarifies things, stating, “She never hit you.” As he’s about to drive off, he says again rudely, “I’ll get them deported.” In an amusing twist, the officer replies to this, saying, “Yes, get them deported. To Puerto Rico.” Of course, Puerto Rico is a US territory, so saying that is akin to sending the woman and her family on a sun-filled holiday.
With the video continuing to circulate online, social media users took to the comments section to give their two cents on the incident. One Redditor expressed, “โYes, get them deported. To Puerto Rico.โ Savage! ๐” while another declared, “Lol that’s just a vacation“.
Elsewhere, another sensible local weighed in with, “The thing is, that there is paid parking everywhere around there. There are at least three parking garages within one block of where he is.” On a more serious note, however, one netizen, penned, “These people have always lived among us but have previously kept to themselves. Now they feel they can spew their hatred out in full force.” Finally, one commenter joked, “The real crime? The haircut.”
While no one was thankfully hurt during the tense exchange, one thing is for sure: Public displays of animosity towards non-white citizens is becoming more and more frequent in the US, and that is both worrying and saddening.
