*A press conference will be held tomorrow, Friday, September 29 (see below for info) to demand justice for Kassidy Jones, the 13-year-old African American honor roll student who was viciously attacked and beaten inside a Los Angeles area McDonald’s by Ariana Lauifi, who now faces charges of felony child abuse.
LAPD confirmed that Lauifi, 31, was arrested today (09-28-23) and booked on one count of felony child abuse. Her bail is set at $100,000.
Angelina Gray, the mother of Kassidy Jones, family members and civil rights activist Najee Ali, Director of Project Islamic Hope are calling for Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon’s office to charge Lauifi with the maximum sentence possible.
“Kassidy Jones is just a child who was viciously attacked and beaten inside the McDonald’s by a grown woman who was videotaped as McDonald’s managers and employees along with bystanders just stood and watched with no one helping to stop the beating, said Najee Ali, Director of Project Islamic Hope. “The family and community leaders are calling for criminal charges to be filed against adult McDonald’s employees who had an obligation under AB 1422: The Sherrice Iverson Law which makes it a crime for adults not to help or call police when a child is being brutally beaten or sexually assaulted.”
The video shows the older woman tossing Kassidy around like a rag doll inside the restaurant as several other people stand around watching. The woman yanks on the teen’s hair as Kassidy attempts to punch and push her way out of the woman’s grasp to no avail.
“I was focused on protecting myself because I knew the moment I put my hands down was the moment I was probably going to get beat to death,” Kassidy said.
The two ended up on the ground as the woman pins down the young girl with her leg and whales on her as the crowd gathers. “‘I’m shocked because like, I didn’t do anything, I don’t know you,’ Kassidy said.
‘You’re coming at me very aggressive for no reason,” she continued.
Several individuals can be seen recording the assault throughout the video.
With the exception of one man who appeared to be with the suspect, no one intervened or attempted to pull the adult woman off the child.
The woman who attacked Kassidy eventually grabbed her meal and left the restaurant.
Kassidy said she and her friends did not know the woman and could not point to a reason for the attack.
Kassidy Jones McDonald’s press conference
Date: Friday, September 29, 2023
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: McDonald’s
1728 Lomita Blvd
Lomita CA 90717
Sponsored by the family of Kassidy Jones, and Najee Ali CEO of Project Islamic Hope
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB: Protesters Target LA Area McDonald’s Where Kassidy Jones (13) was Beaten by Grown Woman | WATCH
