Palo Alto: Hate Crimes Target Bay Area Hindu Women, and Ettan Brings Cal-Indian Cooking to Bryant Street

A Bay Area man was charged with more than a dozen hate crimes targeting older Hindu women of Indian descent for their ceremonial gold jewelry, raising alarm across the South Asian community as festivals approached. Meanwhile, the Cal-Indian restaurant Ettan has been serving a creative fusion of South Asian and California flavors from its home on Bryant Street in downtown Palo Alto.

Hate crimes target Hindu women across Bay Area

Lathan Johnson, a 37-year-old East Palo Alto resident with prior criminal history in Santa Clara and Alameda counties, was charged with more than a dozen hate crimes for targeting elderly Hindu women of Indian descent in a spree spanning two months. The Santa Clara County District Attorney alleged that Johnson targeted at least 14 women wearing traditional attire and gold jewelry, with victims ranging in age from 50 to 73. Prosecutors said he ripped off the women's jewelry, dragged them along the street, broke their wrists, and physically assaulted their husbands in multiple incidents. Johnson was held without bail following his arrest. DA Jeff Rosen described places of worship and community gathering spaces as sacred, vowing full accountability. The Hindu American Foundation's Samir Kalra welcomed the prosecution and urged other counties to charge similar offenses against Asian Americans as hate crimes, noting that the community felt especially vulnerable with major Hindu holidays approaching. Community members posting on neighborhood platforms reported numerous similar incidents targeting Indian women in South Bay cities with large South Asian populations. One local man, whose elderly mother was attacked for her gold necklace in Foster City, said he was flooded with responses after sharing the incident online, underscoring how widespread the targeting had become. [2]

🍛 Ettan brings Cal-Indian cuisine to downtown Palo Alto

Ettan, a Cal-Indian restaurant at 518 Bryant Street in Palo Alto, has brought a distinctive fusion of South Asian and California culinary sensibilities to the city's dining scene. Before the Santa Clara County shelter-in-place order took effect, pedestrians walking along Bryant Street could hear the restaurant's signature atmosphere drifting out from inside — a blend of rhythmic electronic music and contemporary Indian songs that set it apart from more traditional Indian dining options in the area. The restaurant's approach reflects a broader inclination among Indian-heritage restaurateurs in the Bay Area who are rethinking South Asian ingredients and techniques through a California lens, appealing to diners who appreciate the warmth of Indian cooking alongside the lighter, ingredient-focused style common in Bay Area dining. When the shelter-in-place order was implemented across Santa Clara County, Ettan shifted to takeout and delivery operations to continue serving the community while prioritizing the safety of staff and guests. The restaurant's presence on Bryant Street has added a culturally distinct option to Palo Alto's dining landscape, offering a fresh interpretation of Indian cuisine for a city known for its cosmopolitan and health-conscious food scene. [4]

Sources: [2] ABC7 Bay Area · [4] Verde Magazine