Collier Gwin, the owner of the San Francisco art gallery Foster-Gwin Art & Antiques, is facing backlash after video of him spraying a homeless woman in the face with a hose went viral on Twitter. Gwin, who later spoke with the San Francisco Chronicle didn't apologize for his actions but instead doubled down on them.
This is horrible. This awful man is spraying a homeless woman down with a hose. You can hear her yell “Help Me!”
— (((BrokeAssStuart))) (@BrokeAssStuart) January 10, 2023
Does anyone recognize him? Is he affiliated with Barbarossa Lounge? This is inhumane and inexcusable.
Shout out to @briochessf for posting the video. pic.twitter.com/3ZKeRP4gar
Upon seeing the video, many people were understandably disturbed.
How could anyone treat another human being this way. Where is the compassion. One day that could be him, suffering and misfortune. Nobody is invincible. Be kind.
— Saira Tanner (@SairaTanner) January 11, 2023
This is assault. He needs to be arrested
— Anon_vivant (@Anon_vivant) January 10, 2023
The audacity of his posture while performing such an inhumane act
— Emily Mills (@sf_mills) January 10, 2023
The San Fransisco Chronicle reporters spoke to Gwin, who attempted to justify his actions.
EXCLUSIVE: A San Francisco art gallery owner has admitted that he blasted water from a garden hose at a homeless person on the sidewalk, an episode that ignited fury after it was captured in a video that rapidly ricocheted online this week.
— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) January 11, 2023
Read more: https://t.co/psLojiTWi9 pic.twitter.com/RxbQSDK7Xb
I just went down and confronted him during an interview with the chronicle pic.twitter.com/BMuQMJaoHl
— Darren Mckeeman (@tjcrowley) January 10, 2023
According to Gwin, he tried to have the woman removed by social services multiple times and only turned to the hose as a last resort.
She should’ve moved ??
— cosmicanarchy (@anarchybeats) January 10, 2023
when homeless are on the street, businesses have a hard time getting customers. Have you thought of that?
— Jonathan Garcia (@TwinOneTrades) January 10, 2023
Is it affecting his business?
— Vaughan (@TheVNilson) January 11, 2023
If so, as long as he asked her to move first and she refused I’m ok with it
The proper way to handle homelessness has been a controversial subject in many major cities, but losing our compassion for other human beings should never be the answer.
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