Woman charged with hate crime after calling McDonald's manager 'stupid Mexican,' physically attacking him

A 40-year-old woman was charged with a hate crime after calling a McDonald's manager a "stupid Mexican" and physically attacking him while calling other employees "dumb Mexicans ... who don't know how to speak English," the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office said.

What are the details?

Authorities said Alena Jenkins was eating inside the Mountain View, California, restaurant just before 7 a.m. Saturday when employees asked her to wear a face mask.

After Jenkins' refusal to wear a mask following repeated requests, employees asked her to leave — and then Jenkins responded by saying to one employee, "[expletives deleted] Mexican! Go ahead and call the cops!" authorities said.

When the employee called police, Jenkins shoved a COVID-19 plexiglass shield and a sign at the employee, authorities said. She was also in violation of the restaurant's COVID-19 restrictions that prohibit patrons from dining inside the restaurant.

The store manager got involved and asked Jenkins to leave, after which she walked around the front counter and called the manager a "stupid Mexican" and punched him on the arm and shoulder, authorities said. Police said the employee she struck is Latino.

After police arrived, Jenkins called store employees "dumb Mexicans … who don't know how to speak English" as she spoke to officers, authorities said.

The hate crime charge against her as well as a battery charge are misdemeanors, authorities said. Police also said Jenkins, a transient, was in violation of probation and was taken to jail. According to jail records, Jenkins was not offered bail.

"Targeting people because of their perceived ethnicity is not just a shame, it's a crime," District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. "There is no excuse for hatred."

Police Chief Chris Hsiung added that "we will continue to hold those that commit crimes against others, simply based on their race, accountable. As I have said before, hate has no place in this community."