Denver Woman Begs Rioters to Spare Her Business
A Denver woman is asking for rioters to spare her business after it was damaged during the weekend protests.
Saki Melius, owner of Menya Ramen & Poke off of Colfax Avenue, told Fox 31 Denver that rioters broke her windows and set fire to her dumpster.
The damage is especially devastating because Melius just recently reopened her restaurant after a two-month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She told the station that as a minority herself, she is supportive of the peaceful protests.
But the riots have made her employees too afraid to come to work, leaving her to deal with the aftermath herself.
She now has signs in the restaurant's window reading "please don't destroy our business" and "minority owned business."
Melius is just one of the many business owners struggling with the tense climate in Denver.
Martha Valadez, owner of Martha's Beauty Salon near the state Capitol, told 9News she had to pay over $200 to fix a broken window that rioters damaged on Thursday (May 28).
Valadez is also asking rioters to spare her business, stating that she doesn't have enough money to fix possible future damages because of the pandemic.
Thankfully, not all of the protests are violent. Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen was seen marching in solidarity with peaceful protesters on Monday (June 1).
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