CANNA Coffee Owner in D.C. Caught on Camera Telling Latino Immigrant to ‘Learn English!’

The video of a heated altercation between a food delivery driver and a D.C. business owner has ignited a firestorm across social media, exposing the deep tensions surrounding language, race, and xenophobia. Gregorio Amundarain, a delivery driver from Venezuela, shared a one-minute clip on TikTok showing Greg Harris, the owner of CANNA Coffee in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of D.C., hurling insults and repeatedly shouting, “Learn English!” The video captures a tense scene when Amundarain arrived to pick up an order. 

@gregorio_96

Gente el video TikTok’s me lo bajo compartan y difundan esto no puede quedar asi

♬ sonido original – Gregorio

Amundarain explained that the encounter began after he hesitated to enter Harris’ store because of a barking dog. He signaled to Harris, hoping to avoid entering, but what followed was an aggressive confrontation. Once inside, Amundarain says Harris began berating him for not speaking English, leading him to record the incident. “This ain’t your f—in’ country. Learn English!” Harris is heard yelling. The situation escalated, with Harris mocking Spanish speakers while Amundarain remained composed, attempting to diffuse the verbal attack. 

Amundarain, who has lived in the U.S. for two years, says this is the first time he has experienced such hostility in his work as a delivery driver, as reported by WUSA9. He noted that many restaurants understand the language barrier and that delivery workers often use translation apps or show their phones to communicate. The viral video highlights a challenge many non-English-speaking immigrants from the Latino community know to be true. 

What Has Been Happening Since the Incident at CANNA Coffee?

The video prompted an immediate backlash. Uber Eats swiftly condemned Harris’ behavior, stating, “Hate has no place on our platform,” and removed CANNA from the app. D.C. police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.  

Meanwhile, the city’s Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) and D.C. Health revealed that CANNA Coffee was already under scrutiny for multiple infractions and had been ordered to shut down prior to the video going viral. These investigations were part of a broader effort by D.C. authorities to ensure public safety. 

For Amundarain, the experience has been both humiliating and heartbreaking. His mother, after watching the video, pleaded for him to return to Venezuela. “Look how you’re being treated,” she told him as shared by Gregorio. But Amundarain shared the video to shed light on the struggles other delivery drivers may face. 

While the investigation is ongoing, this lets people know that racism and xenophobia are something many immigrants face, even in a city as diverse as Washington, D.C. Furthermore, CANNA Coffee is learning that this behavior is not tolerated. Now, it remains closed, with both the community and local officials taking a stand against hate.