Watch CBS News

Woman Charged With Hate Crime For Racist Margarita Fest Tirade

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A 26-year-old south suburban woman is facing felony hate crime charges after a video that surfaced of her making racist comments at a South Side festival this past summer went viral.

Jessica Sanders was charged with two felony counts of hate crime, and two misdemeanor counts of battery/making physical contact, according to Chicago Police.

Sanders, of the 14200 block of South 44th Court in Alsip, was arrested on a warrant Wednesday, according to police records.

She appeared in bond court Saturday and was released after the posting $5,000, 10 percent of her $50,000 bond, according to the Cook County sheriff's office.

In the video posted to YouTube, Sanders can be seen using the word "n****r" several times and spitting toward the person holding the camera, even knocking the camera away at one point. The video had been viewed more than 700,000 times as of Monday morning.

The Chicago Margarita Festival was conducted July 30-31 at South Shore Beach at 7059 S. South Shore Dr.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2016. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.