Miami woman's confrontation with angry racist spawns #MoveMojito hashtag
Image: This unnamed woman was caught on camera in a racist attack that took place July 5 (screen capture)
July 06, 2016
A woman walking her dog in Miami, Florida on Saturday got followed and harassed by an angry white woman who accused the dog walker of being "South Miami," ie, black.
On Tuesday, Rayne Burse -- @HeyMrsAmerica on Twitter -- was walking her dog Mojito when a woman began to follow her.
"She kept following me talking crazy," Burse told Mic.com. "That's when I decided that I shouldn't lead this lady back to my house and instead record her actions in hopes that she'll retreat back to hers."
She posted the video on Twitter.
when you're racist and think your white skin owns everything pic.twitter.com/o7PWmSCmcZ
— BABY G (@gilossal) July 5, 2016
When Burse asked why the woman was following her, she replied, "Because you're part of south Miami."
Burse asked if she was on the woman's property or bothering her.
"You're in it," said the woman ominously. "And I'm going to report you." She then snatched at Burse's arm, attempting to attack or restrain her and Burse struck the woman in self defense.
"You just hit me," wailed the woman. "You hit me!"
"Yeah and I'll hit you again if you try to grab my camera," Burse said. Then, as her dog tried to jump up, Burse pulled back on his leash, saying, "Move, Mojito!"
"I'm really not in the business of hitting old women, or disrespecting my elders. I tried really hard to deescalate the situation before I even decided to record, and she just wasn't having it. I felt threatened, and I'm not sure if you can hear in the second video, but I was in the middle of a panic attack," Burse told Mic.
The woman was arrested and taken into police custody, but Burse said the incident left her shaken.
After the video went viral, however, it spawned a surprise hashtag campaign.
On Wednesday, Burse reported that "Move Mojito" merchandise is coming.