Esmeralda Upton, a 59-year-old woman from Texas, was found guilty of hate crimes after racially abusing a group of Indian-American women in 2022. The charges included three misdemeanor assault charges and one misdemeanor charge of making terroristic threats. The prosecution argued that Upton targeted the victims due to her bias and prejudice against their race and national origin.
Nearly two years after the incident, Esmeralda Upton faced accusations of assaulting four Indian-American women outside a Dallas, Texas restaurant. During the altercation, she hurled racist remarks, attempted to physically harm the women, and instructed them to “go back to India.” The victims captured the incident on their phones, and the video quickly gained widespread attention.
During the altercation, the woman directed racial abuse at four Indian-American women, claiming that they had come to America seeking a better life and expecting everything for free. Despite police intervention, she persisted in making derogatory remarks. Eventually, she was arrested on state charges and later pleaded guilty to all four counts.
Esmeralda Upton, aged 59, received a sentence of two years of community supervision probation and 40 days of confinement in Collin County Jail for each of the cases, to be served concurrently. Greg Willis, the Collin County district attorney, emphasized that all Americans should be able to exercise their constitutional rights without fear of racially motivated attacks.
In her statement to the outlet, Anamika Chatterjee, one of the victims, expressed the profound impact the attack had on her and her family. She shared that her American-born children resemble Indians, and due to the hatred and assault, she now lives in constant fear for their safety.
She expressed her astonishment at the lack of shame displayed by someone from a minority background, despite the ongoing worry and anxiety caused by their actions.
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