The man who attacked an African American worker in 2023, while he was cleaning the parking lot of a restaurant in Oklahoma City, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, after pleading guilty to the federal hate crime.

Braden Birdsong, 28 Years, he appeared before U.S. District Judge Bernard Jones. “This defendant’s actions were motivated by hate and resulted in a violent attack against a victim, targeted simply because of his race,” stated U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. The Department of Justice shared that the plea documents filed at the court hearing indicate that on August 25, 2023, Birdsong attacked a Black man while he was cleaning the parking lot of the Oklahoma City restaurant where he worked. The defendant began yelling racial slurs at the victim, whom he referred to as “DG,” while repeatedly striking him in the head. The man suffered bodily injuries as a result of the attack. The defendant admitted to assaulting him because of his race and skin color. “Protecting people from hate-based violence” “Hate crimes threaten the safety and dignity of our communities and will face strong accountability. The Department of Justice remains committed to enforcing federal civil rights laws and protecting people from hate-based violence,” said U.S. Attorney Troester. Authorities made it clear that they will not tolerate hate-motivated attacks and celebrated the judge’s ruling against the defendant. “There is no place in our society for the hate and prejudice that fueled this heinous attack, and no one should have to fear being attacked simply for who they are or how they look,” said Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater of the FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office.