Over 4,600 people have sent donations to Uber driver Subhakar Khadka.
A video recently went viral showing despicable behavior from 3 Uber passengers, one of whom attacked Subhakar Khadka after he asked her to put on a mask. The video shows the woman screaming at Khadka, trying to steal his phone, tearing off his mask, and coughing on him.
Warning: Video is disturbing and contains explicit language.
UBER DRIVER COUGHED ON, ASSAULTED & PEPPER SPRAYED
An @Uber driver was assaulted & coughed-upon by a group of women in #SanFrancisco after he refused them service for not wearing masks, in an attack the driver captured on videohttps://t.co/6Muz8wb2ea pic.twitter.com/KMO1vig1tq
— KPIX 5 (@KPIXtv) March 9, 2021
Khadka claims he was pepper sprayed through his open car window after the young women got out. The spray ended up staining the fabric on his car’s interior, for which Uber originally only compensated him $20. They increased the compensation to $120, but Uber investor Cyan Banister took matters into her own hands by starting a GoFundMe, which blew past its original goal of $20,000. It just hit $100,000 on Tuesday.
“We will have Subhakar take possession of any funds raised in this campaign to help him with his living expenses while he is unable to work due to this trauma,” reads the GoFundMe. “With his inability to work, he will need these funds as soon as possible.” Banister also seeks a good attorney who may represent Khadka against his attacker.
I posted an update. Goal reached, but if you know of a good attorney for Subhakar, please point them my way. https://t.co/AsUaDbIPnh @gofundme
— Recall Chesa Boudin (@cyantist) March 10, 2021
“You guys are animals to treat other human beings like this,” Khadka told KPIX, his local news outlet. Khadka is from Nepal and has driven with Uber for 3 years. He’s certain that this terrible treatment was another example of Covid-19-related racial discrimination, adding to the uptick in anti-Asian racism seen in the Bay Area and beyond.
“If I was another complexion, I would have not gotten that treatment from them. The moment I opened my mouth to speak, they realized I’m among one of them, so it’s easy for them to intimidate me.”
The GoFundMe, posted less than 24 hours ago, already has thousands of encouraging comments for Khadka. “A mask is no protection against idiots like those women. Let’s give him a little time off,” said one. “We are disappointed in the actions of these passengers as well as Uber and hope the love and support of the community can help during this difficult time,” said another.
An arrest has been made in connection with the Mar 7, 2021, aggravated assault and robbery of a 32-year-old Uber driver. Another suspect expressed her intent through counsel late this afternoon to turn herself in.
Visit the attached link to read more ➡️ https://t.co/zfvBl3CrWn pic.twitter.com/Tlnb69n2aI
— San Francisco Police (@SFPD) March 12, 2021
24-year-old Los Angeles woman Malaysia King, the woman seated on the left in the vehicle, was arrested by the Las Vegas Police Department on Thursday, according to a statement by the SFPD. She faces charges including assault with a caustic chemical, assault and battery, conspiracy, and violation of health and safety code. One of King’s fellow passengers, 24-year-old Arna Kimiai (the one seen yelling at Khadka) later turned herself in.
“The behavior captured on video in this incident showed a callous disregard for the safety and wellbeing of an essential service worker in the midst of a deadly pandemic,” said Lt. Tracy McCray, head of SFPD’s Robbery Detail. “We take this conduct very seriously in San Francisco, and we’re committed to ensuring that justice is done in this case.”
[Featured Image via GoFundMe]