Mexican Restaurant Targeted By Vandals
Pittsburgh (KDKA) - Police say Pittsburgh's first Mexican-Caribbean restaurant was vandalized on Friday, when someone threw a rock through a plate glass window.
The co-owners of Las Palmas restaurant in Beechview say they believe the incident may be tied to an earlier attack on another family business. Last month, someone spray painted a message on the Las Palmas Market in Brookline, reading 'go back to Mexico now'."
They think the attackers are singling them out.
"I do think it has something to do with race because there are four other buildings on this block, and ours was the only one hit," said co-owner Missy Berumen.
Customers say they are put off by the seemingly prejudice nature of the vandalism.
"This is 2016, we should be liking people. Hating people, you get up in the morning you hate people, what a waste of life."
Tom Hutchins was one of several hundred people who held a rally in support of the market in Brookline. The rally aimed to show that the larger community supports diversity brought in by the restaurant and market.
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The owners say they appreciate the support.
"They back us, they back us for this incident. The mayor's office is aware, and he supports us 100%," co-owner Antonio Fraga said.
He says he has been in this country for 14 years and has no plans to leave.
"We come to work here. Myself, I have my family here, I love the states it's my second home. Especially Pittsburgh that has brought me everything I have."
Officers are looking for a suspect in both vandalism cases.