California couple who yelled ‘white power’ at Black man charged with hate crime

Gregory and Rachel Howell will face hate crime charges after yelling 'white power' at a Black man and his girlfriend.

Aug 3, 2020

Howell California — Gregory and Rachel Howell (credit: Torrance PD)

A California couple is arrested on hate crime and vandalism charges after a racist confrontation with a Black man and his girlfriend.

NBC News reports Gregory and Rachel Howell were in traffic in Torrance and stopped in front of the man and his girlfriend before exiting their vehicle to let out their hateful rant. Gregory yelled “white power” and made the Nazi salute while his wife shouted “only white lives matter,” according to police.

The incident occurred on July 22 around 10:30 p.m.

Itzel Lopez, the woman at the receiving end of the attack, shared the shocking video to her Instagram feed. She claims she and her Black boyfriend were followed by the Howell’s before the ultimate red light stop where the verbal attack ensued.

“Today on my 25th birthday I was a victim of racism and so was my boyfriend who is black. We were being harassed for miles. Until we came to a red light. When all this happened They hit the car. Cause damaged to his car,” Lopez writes on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CC-WbPDpRDw/

“We didn’t know what was going on. Never in my life did I think I was gonna experience this. It’s actually really scary. They don’t even know you and they’re willing to hurt you,” Lopez says according to NBC News.

Now, both husband and wife face serious criminal charges. Lopez and her boyfriend filed the hate crime and vandalism report on July 23, and the Howells were arrested and released on bail July 31.

A statement released by the Torrance Police Department confirmed both 29-year-old suspects are being investigated for their behavior.

Lopez shared an image of the press release to her own Instagram feed with the caption, “An ARREST HAS BEEN MADE ??. NOW LETS GET JUSTICE!!!”

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