A local D.C. coffee shop, CANNA, was ordered to shut down by city officials after a video surfaced of a man berating a delivery driver for not speaking English. The video went viral and showed the man repeatedly yelling “Learn English!” at the driver. This incident prompted Uber Eats to remove CANNA Coffee from their app.
The Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) and D.C. Health issued a joint statement ordering CANNA to cease operations. The departments had been conducting inspections of the business months before the video went viral. Notices of infraction were issued on multiple occasions, leading to the ultimate closure of CANNA on September 11.
Delivery driver Gregario Amundaria, who was the target of the verbal abuse in the video, felt threatened and humiliated by the man’s actions. He has been working as a delivery driver for seven months and sends money to support his daughter in Venezuela. The D.C. police are investigating the incident as potentially motivated by hate or bias, although no charges have been filed.
When news reporters attempted to speak with the man in the video at CANNA, he declined to confirm his identity or provide a statement. The business also did not respond to requests for comment via phone call or text message. Uber Eats expressed their disgust with the behavior in the video and emphasized that hate has no place on their platform.
The incident at CANNA Coffee highlights the importance of respecting individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures. It serves as a reminder that discriminatory behavior is unacceptable and can have serious consequences for businesses. Moving forward, it is essential for businesses to promote inclusivity and respect within their establishments to ensure the safety and well-being of all customers and employees.