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Fabiola Velasquez, 30, told CNN that she and her friend Isabel Nava Marin were in a City Market supermarket at Rifle Monday afternoon. The two women were in an alley chatting in Spanish when another woman approached them "aggressively".
According to Velasquez, the woman, identified by police as Linda Dwire, 64, told the two friends that while they lived in the United States, they "had to speak English".
That's when Kamira Trent, 30, intervened.
Velasquez filmed part of the exchange between Dwire and Trent and shared it on Facebook. Thursday night, the video had been seen about a million times. Around 2,900 Facebook users commented and congratulated Trent on his massive defense of the two friends.
"Do not harass people," Trent said in the video as Dwire came closer, pointing at him. At one point, Dwire came close enough to touch Trent, who pushed Dwire's arm and started backing up, saying, "Do not do that, call the cops."
Dwire then tells Trent: "You know what, you come from a different generation." Trent cuts Dwire and replies, "No, I do not have any respect."
The two women continued walking down the aisle. You can hear Dwire say "you are going to lose this country," while Trent said "this woman needs to be escorted from here," adding later, "you do not harass Hispanic women."
Dwire was arrested and charged with two counts of bias-motivated harassment, according to the Police Department of Rifles.
In the affidavit of the police, Sgt. Carlos Cornejo wrote that when he arrived at the scene and spoke to Dwire, the woman said "she found shocking" that Velasquez and her friend speak Spanish.
Dwire also stated that she approached the two friends and asked them if they lived in the United States and liked them, adding that she also had them. told to speak english and to be american.
According to the affidavit, Cornejo also stated that Dwire "went on to say that she was offended because when you speak another language, you divide." She says that this gives her the idea that they want to bring their country here and want it to conform to their country "
Cornejo added that Dwire had declared exercising his right to freedom of expression.
In the affidavit, Cornejo stated that he saw the video taken by Velasquez. The document contains a screenshot of the video that shows Dwire pointing his finger at Trent and Trent pushing Dwire.
Dwire was transported and booked to Garfield County Jail. She was later released. CNN contacted Dwire on Thursday for a comment by phone. He left a message and did not receive a reminder.
CNN also contacted Trent Thursday by phone and via social media, but she did not respond.
In an article published Monday on Facebook, Velasquez wrote in Spanish about his experience: "I've always seen videos on social networks and they've got me upset." Today, when that I've arrived, I can say that I felt very helpless. "
Velasquez told CNN that she would not want anything similar to happen, but added that if that happened, "they have rights and they can call the police".
"Several times [the] The Hispanic community does not feel safe asking for help. "
CNN also joined Thursday City Market by phone and left messages that were not sent back.
CNN's Paul Murphy contributed to this report.
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