A California college counselor is under investigation after accosting a Long Beach couple out strolling with their infant and telling them to go back to their country.
According to CBS-LA, Tony Kao posted video to his Facebook page showing his encounter with Tarin Olson who works counseling students at Golden West College. Kao noted that he and his wife were out walking in the sun when Olson confronted them and said, "You need to go back to your country."
Writing on Facebook, Kao explained the encounter.
"We encountered a bigot and a racist today in our neighborhood in Long Beach," he wrote. "During our normal afternoon walk with my wife and daughter in our neighborhood, a Caucasian female walked passed us completely unprovoked and said to us very nonchalantly, "Go Back To Your Country!" and continued walking! Whhhaaaat!!!"
"A few weeks back we believed we walked pass the same lady and also heard her mumble something to that effect but ignored it and thought we misheard but this time as she walked away, I yelled to her, "WHAT YOU SAY?" Not only did she walk away confirming what she had said, she walked back our way to head home and the video footage explains the rest. I apologize to my wife and daughter who was also on the scene with me to have to experience racism first hand. Our little girl was born in the city of LB, she's already in her country stupid lady! You hear about racism among our society but when you experience it first hand and with your loved ones, it just sucks and ruins our day!! Can't believe this kind of ignorance still exist in our state and city known for diversity and multiculturalism!"
CBS-LA interviewed Olson -- who refused to appear on camera -- and she didn't deny the comment, but did say her students don't think she is a racist.
She then issued a statement saying, "I feel my perspective will be twisted if discussing the skewed video which cut out part of the incident.[…] If you would like to have a full normal interview about the displacement of European-Americans then I gladly am available to enlighten the public.”
Golden West College --which lists Olson as a professor as well as a counselor -- responded with a statement of their own, saying: "It has recently come to our attention that there was a video posted on Facebook of a GWC faculty member making comments that the College does not condone or support. Golden West College believes in an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students."
The school also announced they are investigating Olson and are treating it as a personnel issue.
Watch the video below posted to Facebook by Tony Kao:
