LI Rally To Protest Pizzeria Worker’s Alleged Racist Comments

WANTAGH, NY — A rally will be held Saturday on Long Island to protest the alleged racist comments a pizzeria delivery driver was fired for over the weekend.

On Saturday, Lashae Jerry, a Massapequa resident, made a delivery order from I Love Pizza in Wantagh and didn't leave a tip because the food came two hours late, according to a Facebook post by her mother, Monique Hawkins.

Hawkins went live on Facebook, and in a video, she and others with her can be heard describing the situation for viewers and then Nassau County police officers. Jerry allegedly received a text message from the driver that said, "Black lives do matter but yours doesn’t," then referred to Jerry as a “dumb n-----” and told her to get out of Wantagh, according to statements in the video (see video below).

The groups Long Island Peaceful Protest and Black White Brown United condemned the driver's alleged comments and said they are organizing a protest at the pizzeria Saturday at 2 p.m.

“No one deserves to be treated this way,” a flier posted to Long Island Peaceful Protest’s Facebook stated. “Join LIPP and BWBU as we rally outside the pizzeria to stand by this customer and show our support for them, and let the pizzeria know this behavior will not be tolerated.”

"I was upset, I mean I started crying ... I felt like it was discrimination," Jerry told News 12.

The pizzeria owner offered Jerry a refund and fired the delivery driver. Police told News 12 that the district attorney's office was contacted. A spokesman for the DA’s office could not immediately comment.

“I handled it the right way," the pizzeria owner told Patch. He declined to identify himself.

The pizzeria owner told Patch he is aware of the rally and declined to comment further.

Below is the video Hawkins took inside the restaurant. Warning: graphic language.