7/16/16, my 3 nieces (in their 20s), my sister, and I were enjoying an afternoon tubing on the Root River. We rented tubes from Root River Outfitters (RRO) in Lanesboro, MN. Customers have the opportunity to get picked up by RRO's bus to return to their business location. This was us. Among a sea of 30+ individuals, we --the only Asian women-- sat towards the back of the bus. Suddenly, we heard, "I want to fuck them Asians." Moments later, there was some commotion behind us; I turned to see that a man who was seated behind my sister had gotten up and moved. His friend he was sitting with had pulled his penis out from his swimming trunks and was peeing in the direction of my niece all over the bus seat and floor. The man proceeded to hold his penis and lewdly smile at me and the rest of the passengers around him. Others of his party laughed. There was no sign of remorse, embarrassment, or urgency present in his face or in his body language to indicate that this was purely an accident. He had no intention of averting his penis to hide it or to ensure urine didn't get on anyone. This was an egregious act of racism and sexual perversion--not an accident.
During the entire bus ride, there was 1 staff member seated at the front by the driver. Both were completely unaware. When we arrived at Root River Outfitters, I informed the bus driver and staff member immediately of what happened. Someone had opened the emergency exit at the back of the bus, so he and his party had already exited. I told the staff members what he wore and what he looked like, and which direction he went in. I was greeted with apathy. I know from my own work experience that staff should not confront or attempt to apprehend a perpetrator--I did not want them to confront him and risk getting hurt. However, if the staff deemed this incident/hate crime as one of major concern and urgency, they would have immediately taken action to contact local law enforcement--instead of just standing around. Every staff member I talked to offered no assistance, sympathy or support.
I ran to confront him in the parking lot. As I walked away to get my phone, someone yelled, "Fuck them Asians" from the car. I called the cops and drove up to Root River Outfitters and parked in front of their office in their lot. Our presence was evident, but no one approached us. Everything was business as usual: closing down the shop and counting their money they made for the day. I realized that RRO had absolutely no concern to address what happened on/in their property, with us paying customers, during the time of our patronage.
I demanded to meet the manager & was pointed over to Julie Charlebois, one of the owners of RRO, who was meticulously counting the cash they had made for the day. Wouldn't you, as the proprietor, have any concern over your customer's safety and care after they reported such a lewd and vile act? Wouldn't you set your money down for 2 minutes to check in with your customers to ensure they receive help and that help was on the way? Apparently not. I explained the situation and demanded a full refund -- especially for showing such lack of concern. She told me that her staff was concerned that they told her when she came in to close the shop and went so far as to claim that they did, in fact, call the police. That was a complete lie. (On the police report that included their narrative and perspective, there was no phone call indicated on the behalf of RRO.) In terms of the refund, Julie said she would only give us half or she could give us a free trip the next time we visited. She refused to give us the full refund and sourly handed my sister $30.
I insisted that RRO needed to do more to ensure that this didn't happen again to future customers. She was argumentative and dismissives. While acknowledging that she can't control people and their actions, I explained that the environment of the bus was unsafe and that it could be structured strategically to ensure safety and protection for ALL customers. She plainly stated that that's why families are able to load first and are invited to sit in the front as to ensure their safety. I advised that this was not enough and suggested that a staff member should at least sit in the back of the bus to monitor the passengers and ensure customer safety throughout the bus--not just in the front. She ignored this request.
To further add insult to injury, Julie stated that I SHOULD NOT MAKE THE SITUATION MORE COMPLICATED BY ADDING RACE INTO THIS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE INCIDENT WAS ENTIRELY RACE AND SEX-BASED! This was undoubtedly a HATE CRIME.
She tried to reduce this incident and insist it due to alcohol by comparing our situation another one she encountered: inebriated female who urinated in front of her male staff. NOT SAME.
No consideration to change policies and standard, nor to find and ban the individual.
The bus that was urinated on, went back to pick up the rest of the tubes without getting sanitized. GROSS. read more
