Huntington restaurant owner denounces fellow restaurant owner’s racist rant

Protesters were back in Huntington Wednesday to call out the owner of Pancho Villa’s restaurant, who was in a video posted on social media that included a racist rant by a fellow restaurant owner.

News 12 Staff

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Jun 3, 2020, 7:34 PM

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Updated 1,514 days ago

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Protesters were back in Huntington Wednesday to call out the owner of Pancho Villa’s restaurant, who was in a video posted on social media that included a racist rant by a fellow restaurant owner.

According to Newsday, marchers of mostly young people peacefully made their way up New York Avenue to bring attention to police brutality in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

That same day, Luigi Petrone, the owner of Tutto Pazzo, made a video on Facebook where he warned businesses owners to “be careful” and said “a bunch of us” were going to throw watermelons at the protesters.

Behind Petrone in the video was Augie Abbatiello Jr., owner of Pancho Villa’s. Abbatiello Jr. did not say anything in the video and it was unclear if he was aware of what Petrone was saying.

Abbatiello Jr. spoke with protesters Wednesday outside his restaurant.

According to Newsday, he said: “I denounce everything Louie said on the video…I should have spoken out earlier but I’m here for the community, I apologize.”

After speaking to the crowd, some protesters told News 12 that it was a step in the right direction.

"There's not only one race out here, everybody's out here, and people want change," said one protester.

Joey Petrone, a co-owner of Tutto Pazzo, also posted an apology.

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