When United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents shot and killed civilian Alex Pretti on January 24, Minneapolis’s Nicollet Avenue faced immediate chaos.
Peaceful protesters — and members of the press — in the area were quickly subject to tear gas and “less lethal” bullets as federal agents attempted to get them to leave the scene.
Among the crowd was local journalist Samie Solina, who was on the scene for KARE 11 News, as well as her videographer, Mitchell Yehl.
Solina and Yehl quickly sought shelter in a nearby Vietnamese restaurant, My Huong Kitchen. Owner Tracy Wong immediately let them in.
In a video, Wong is seen ushering the duo in, saying “come, come,” and asking if they had any water.
As Solina repeatedly said thank you, Wong embraced her in a hug.
“I am so sorry,” Wong told the news team, tears in her eyes. “I am so sorry, guys.”
Soon, more people, presumably protesters and others caught in the scene, filed into the restaurant, Wong shouting, “Come in, come in. This is my home.”
A video of the interaction has gone viral on social media.
“I am so thankful for Tracy, who sheltered Mitchell and I as we were gagging on tear gas. She opened her doors for hours during the heated protests following the killing of a man by federal agents,” Solina wrote in the caption.
A commenter identified Tracy as Tracy Wong and encouraged locals to support the restaurant.
“Tracy has given me permission to post this video, and leave the comment section up,” Solina added later. “She wants folks to know her establishment is a safe place for everyone.”
As Solina gathered her bearings, she asked Wong how she’s been doing. Restaurant owners, and particularly immigrant- and BIPOC-owned establishments, have certainly been feeling the impact of ICE presence in Minnesota, with workers staying home and fearing for their safety.
“I’m feeling so bad, my God, I’m so nervous, scared — very scared, really scared,” Wong told Solina.
But immediately, she got to work for her guests.
“Come in,” she said again. “Let me make you a pho. Tell everyone to come in here and be safe.”
Once settled, Solina kept reporting, sending live dispatches back to KARE11 from My Huong. At this point, a small crowd seeking safety had formed inside the restaurant, and the reporters set up their camera in the window to maintain a view of ICE activity in the street outside.
In-studio journalists asked Solina if crowds in the street were dispersing. While many sheltered in nearby restaurants, she said, it did not seem like protesters were shrinking in size.
The camera then panned to Wong, who was looking outside the window, as well.
“This is Tracy, who I think a lot of people here feel like they owe her a debt of gratitude,” Solina said in the broadcast. “She’s just letting people in, and of course you can see that she’s just heartbroken.”
Solina asked her why she let people into the restaurant amid a chaotic and violent scene.
“Because I wanted everyone to be safe and get warm because it’s so cold out there,” Wong said. “I want everyone to come in here, get some hot tea, get some hot water, something to eat. It’s on me; it’s no problem.”
Wong went on to say that she had been in the restaurant’s location for 13 years.
“I’ve never seen this before,” Wong said, referring to the tear gas and screams she saw outside her window that day. “[It] makes my heart go beat-beat-beat-beat.”
On Monday, Wong shared a message on the restaurant’s Facebook page.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the love and kindness you’ve shown. I have always tried to help others without expecting anything in return, so I am truly overwhelmed by the support being shown to our business,” she wrote.
“Every message, share, and gesture means more than I can say. I love you all, and God bless you.”
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Header image by Chad Davis (CC BY 4.0)
