Brawl outside New York restaurant over demand for vaccine proof

New York Police said they were called to an assault in front of Carmine's on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Photo / Google Streetview

New details are emerging about a brawl outside a popular New York City restaurant between several out-of-town visitors and an employee over the restaurant's requirement that the guests show proof of vaccination.

Attorneys for Carmine's and for three women from Texas who are facing charges in connection with the melee last Thursday told the New York Times that the women had provided documentation of Covid-19 vaccinations but that the altercation escalated after two men who joined the party didn't have proof.

The restaurant hostess, who is white, and was seen being attacked in a video shot by an onlooker, suggested the vaccination cards were fake, spoke condescendingly to the group, who are Black, and used a racial slur, an attorney for the women told the Times.

The dispute was "mutual combat", Justin Moore said.

A notice explaining that proof of vaccination is required to dine inside is seen at a restaurant in midtown Manhattan in New York. Photo / Seth Wenig, AP

Carolyn Richmond, an attorney representing Carmine's, denied the claim, writing in an email to the Times that "nothing about this incident suggests race was an issue".

Surveillance footage reviewed by the Times showed the three women being ushered inside the restaurant after showing documentation outside. It showed three men showing up several minutes later but only one showing a vaccination card. The fight broke out shortly after.

According to police, the three women punched the hostess repeatedly and broke her necklace, leaving the 24-year-old bruised and scratched. She was taken to a hospital and later released.

The women face charges of misdemeanour assault and criminal mischief and are scheduled to appear in court on October 5.

New York City's rule requiring proof of vaccination for indoor restaurant dining, gyms and entertainment venues has been in effect since August 17 but only began being enforced in the past week.

A Black Lives Matter activist told the Times a demonstration was planned outside the restaurant on Monday to protest the treatment of Black patrons. - AP