San Francisco residents are enraged after a viral video showed a white man spraying a Black homeless woman with a water hose.
In the Jan. 9Â video containing thousands of views, the man identified as Collier Gwin, owner of Foster Gwin Art& Antiques, was seen casually leaning up against a railing in front of the Barbarossa Lounge, spraying a homeless woman, who he identified as âCora.â
While being sprayed, the homeless woman attempted to talk back to Gwin. He turned off the hose and pointed off in the distance, telling her to move.
âHey, just move, move, move, okay?â he asked. âYouâre going to move?â
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Commenters noticed the incident happened in front of the Barbarossa Lounge and thought it was where he worked, informing them of the incident. The restaurant took to Instagram to give a statement, clarifying that Gwin wasnât an employee of theirs.
âBarbarossa Lounge has been made aware of a video that has begun to circulate on social media, which was filmed outside of our small business,â the statement read. âBarbarossa is in no way associated with the inhumane actions portrayed in the video. Upon investigation, it appears the actions are those of a neighboring business owner.â
Barbarossa Lounge ended the statement by stating they shared viewersâ disappointment.
In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Gwin said that the Black woman acted violently toward him before he hosed her.
âI said you have to move; I cannot clean the street; move down,â he explained. âShe starts screaming belligerent things, spitting, yelling at meâŚAt that point, she was out of controlâŚI spray her with the hose and say move, move. I will help you.â
San Franciscoâs District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin called the incident an âunconscionable assaultâ and tweeted that they have been trying to get the homeless woman help for months, but she declined. According to KRON 4, Barbarossaâs owners have contacted city officials and social services to assist the woman, but she made it crystal clear that she didnât want help and wanted to be left alone.