White Florida man running for local office ‘told Puerto Rican tennis players to go and cut grass’

Sarasota City Commission candidate Martin Hyde has come under fire for a viral video where he allegedly told a Puerto Rican teen to ‘go out and cut grass’

A Florida local politician has come under fire after a video surfaced showing him allegedly saying racist remarks including ‘go cut grass’ at a Puerto Rican teenage athlete at a local tennis club. 

Martin Hyde, a Sarasota City Commission candidate and business man in the area, berated the teenage tennis player from Puerto Rico at the Bath & Racquet Club on Tuesday. 

The 15-year-old Puerto Rican junior tennis player was at the club for a youth tournament, according to the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

The teen took video footage of the moment Hyde exploded on him at the club. 

‘That’s racism, man, how can you say something like that? Aren’t you human?’ the teen says to Hyde at the start of the video.

‘This is a private club, get out,’ Hyde responds. 

Martin Hyde, a Sarasota City Commission candidate and business man in the area, berated the teenage tennis player from Puerto Rico at the Bath & Racquet Club on Tuesday and it was all caught on video that was later posted to Twitter

Martin Hyde, a Sarasota City Commission candidate and business man in the area, berated the teenage tennis player from Puerto Rico at the Bath & Racquet Club on Tuesday and it was all caught on video that was later posted to Twitter

'That’s racism, man, how can you say something like that? Aren’t you human?' the teen says to Hyde at the start of the video.

'This is a private club, get out,' Hyde responds

‘That’s racism, man, how can you say something like that? Aren’t you human?’ the teen says to Hyde at the start of the video. ‘This is a private club, get out,’ Hyde responds

The video was posted to Twitter on Friday where it went viral with the caption: 'Minor Puerto Rican tennis layer was expelled from facility for the Celsius Tennis Academy for speaking in Spanish. He was participated in the Casely International Championship in Sarasota, Florida'

The video was posted to Twitter on Friday where it went viral with the caption: ‘Minor Puerto Rican tennis layer was expelled from facility for the Celsius Tennis Academy for speaking in Spanish. He was participated in the Casely International Championship in Sarasota, Florida’

Hyde then says ‘I’m going to have a little talk with him.’ 

‘I’m getting out! No you’re rude! You’re telling me to cut grass because I’m Hispanic,’ the teen says in the clip as Hyde tries to talk to a club worker. 

‘Yes. So what?’ Hyde asks. 

‘Are you processing this?’ the teen says outraged. 

Hyde then approaches another club worker and says ‘Just throw ’em out’, motioning towards the Puerto Rican teen and his friend. 

‘We’re here for an international tournament,’ the teen responds. 

‘Listen to them. Look at this agitated… You don’t know what drugs they’re on,’ Hyde said. 

When the teen then tries to explain to Hyde and a club worker what went down, Hyde waves his hand in the teen’s face and loftily says ‘Shut up’.  

'I'm getting out! No you're rude! You're telling me to cut grass because I'm Hispanic,' the teen says in the clip

When the teen then tries to explain to Hyde and a club worker what went down, Hyde waves his hand in the teen's face and loftily says 'Shut up'

‘I’m getting out! No you’re rude! You’re telling me to cut grass because I’m Hispanic,’ the teen says in the clip as Hyde tries to talk to a club worker and get two Puerto Rican teens kicked out. When the teen then tries to explain to Hyde and a club worker what went down, Hyde waves his hand in the teen’s face and loftily says ‘Shut up’

Coach Angel Diaz says he was in the locker room when the teens rushed to him and reported the racist incident, saying they were told by Hyde to 'go cut the grass'

Coach Angel Diaz says he was in the locker room when the teens rushed to him and reported the racist incident, saying they were told by Hyde to ‘go cut the grass’

The incident took place at the Bath & Racquet Club on Tuesday in Sarasota, Florida. The 15-year-old Puerto Rican junior tennis player was at the club for a youth tournament

The incident took place at the Bath & Racquet Club on Tuesday in Sarasota, Florida. The 15-year-old Puerto Rican junior tennis player was at the club for a youth tournament 

That video was then posted late Friday where it went viral and landed Hyde in hot water. 

The video was posted in Spanish with the caption: ‘Minor Puerto Rican tennis layer was expelled from facility for the Celsius Tennis Academy for speaking in Spanish. He was participated in the Casely International Championship in Sarasota, Florida.’

Angel Diaz, the coach for the teens, said he was in the locker room when the two teens involved in the video ran to tell him about the racist incident.

He says that Hyde aggressively told them to quiet down while they were speaking in Spanish and told them to ‘go out and cut the grass’. 

However, Hyde has denied saying the racist remark, but acknowledged that he lost his temper. 

‘I acknowledge from the get-go is that I was wrong and that much wasn’t based on their ethnicity. It was based on my poor character,’ he said in an interview with ABC. 

He claimed that the teens were talking loudly and disrupting a lesson his son was taking.  

Despite the viral video, Hyde denied saying the racist comment but admitted he lost his temper

Despite the viral video, Hyde denied saying the racist comment but admitted he lost his temper

After the video went viral he said he intended to withdraw from the Sarasota Commission race for District 2, but later said he’s considering staying in the race. 

‘I haven’t made a final determination yet as I want to consult with more people whose opinions I value, but for now I’m rescinding my campaign termination,’ he said.

He said he is willing to meet with the teens he offended to offer an apology. 

Hyde has been reportedly banned from the Bath & Racquet Club following the incident.  

The teens, according to their coach, are still shaken from the incident.

After the incident one of them posted to Twitter in Spanish saying they had never been so mad in their life. 

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Florida condemned the incident. 

‘These unconscionable incidents are becoming alarmingly common in our country as of recently. Though we understand that there are differences in policies and issues, the one value we should always share is civility,’ they said in a statement. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk