March 15, 2021
SAN ANTONIO, Texas—A ramen noodle shop was vandalized with racist graffiti just days after its owner, Mike Nguyen, spoke out against Governor Greg Abbott’s decision to end the state’s mask mandate in an interview with CNN.
Noodle Tree, which is located on UTSA Blvd, was found with red paint graffiti Sunday afternoon. Racist messages were painted on the restaurant’s windows and a table outside that read, “no mask,” “ramen noodle flu,” “kung flu,” “commie,” “go back 2 China,” among other insults, according to KSAT 12.
The graffiti also delayed the restaurant’s opening on Sunday to 1 p.m., according to a Facebook post.
Nguyen appeared on CNN Wednesday and spoke out against Gov. Abbott’s decisions to lift the state’s mask mandate and raise occupancy to 100% in businesses. He also spoke about his diagnosis of Lymphoma.
“Greg Abbott doesn’t have the Texas people’s interest in mind. He cares about himself at this point,” Nguyen told CNN. “I was almost devastated when I heard the news just because this year has been tough on me. Not only dealing with the stress of my sickness, but also dealing with the stress that comes with COVID and the anxiety that comes with that.”
Nguyen told CNN that in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the shop was closed for nearly six months. Faced with stacking bills, Nguyen decided to reopen the shop and follow COVID-19 safety protocols outlined by Texas’ Department of State Health Services.
Texas Gov. Abbott’s decision to lift the mask mandate is “selfish,” says Mike Nguyen, the owner of a restaurant in San Antonio who is battling cancer.
“Dropping the mask mandate will not help the economy, will not help us open. And a lot of us feel he's putting…us in danger.” pic.twitter.com/wDWDPtH9a4— CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) March 10, 2021
Nguyen told CNN that in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the shop was closed for nearly six months. Faced with stacking bills, Nguyen decided to reopen the shop and follow COVID-19 safety protocols outlined by Texas’ Department of State Health Services.
During the interview, Nguyen highlighted attacks on Asian-Americans during the coronavirus pandemic and the additional risk of being an Asian-American business owner, reported KSAT 12.
“We have seen a lot of attacks on Asian-Americans and that’s a huge concern for me because I have a bullseye on my back,” Nguyen said. “Those (mask enforcement) confrontations open up the opportunity.”
It’s unclear if any arrests have been made so far in the incident.
Feature Image via KSAT 12