A wave of support is sweeping through Los Angeles after a disturbing viral video showed a Taco Bell Cantina security guard hitting a homeless Black woman in the face. The footage, which surfaced on February 9, has sparked outrage, particularly among Black men in the community who are stepping up to demand justice and accountability.
The incident took place at the Taco Bell Cantina on 7th Street and Flower Street in downtown LA. The video shows the unidentified woman engaging in a dispute with the security guard before she approaches a digital ordering screen. As she begins typing, the guard abruptly pulls her away and hits her in the face. The woman, clearly shaken, tells him to “get away from me” as he repeatedly orders her to leave. Eventually, she walks away.
Following the video’s release, a coalition of Black clergy, activists, and community leaders have rallied in support of the woman, calling for the immediate arrest of the security guard and systemic changes in how businesses handle the unhoused population.
“We need some accountability,” said Pastor Shep Crawford in a video. “We need to know exactly what’s going on with that security guard, with that security guard company.”
“We do not condone the behavior in this video and take this matter very seriously. We are informed that the guard in this video is no longer with the third-party security company, and the franchisee is conducting a full investigation,” Taco Bell Corporation said in a statement.
Black men show up for homeless Black woman slapped by a security guard at @tacobell in Downtown, Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/RphzDgoycu
— South Central Native 📸⚡️✍🏾 (@slausongirlnews) February 22, 2025
However, community leaders argue that simply firing the guard is not enough. They are calling for legal action and greater oversight in how security personnel are trained to handle conflicts, especially with vulnerable individuals.
Black men from all walks of life—pastors, activists, and everyday community members—have united to send a clear message: Black women must be protected.
“As clergy, as advocates of the community, as community members, we are here to let you know that we do not advocate, we do not honor, we do not celebrate, we do not desire, we do not accept violence in or against our community,” said Pastor Ryan Simms. “The violence that was shown here against this woman is unacceptable. We stand for all of our sisters and brothers.”
Pastor Joe Paul echoed this sentiment, pointing to the larger cultural issue at play. “This is a culture that’s pervading this area. And this street, 7th Street, is the epicenter. And so there needs to be some cultural change…There are resources at the City of L. A. on homelessness specifically and internationally.”
Parie Avalon Blue added, “But we all demonstrate that the brothers in the street, with the clergy, we on the same accord. We are representing our communities. We represent our black folks letting them know that we do treasure the Black women.”
The movement goes beyond seeking justice for the woman in the video—it’s about changing the way Black people, particularly Black women and the unhoused, are treated in society.
Pastor Shep Crawford issued a final call to action: “Let’s make sure that we are supporting our Black women. Let’s make sure that we are hearing them. We have to take accountability because if we don’t protect them, who will?”
The protest on Feb. 15 is expected to draw widespread attention as Black leaders and community members continue to push for justice. Their message is clear: Black women are not invisible, and they will not be left unprotected.
