Shouts of “No justice, no liquor license” came from a small gathering of people outside of LynLake’s Los Andes restaurant on Wednesday afternoon.

The protest was an attempt to draw attention to the recent sexual assault charges against co-owner Christian Quito and the business’ upcoming liquor license renewal on April 8. The protest was organized by Amor Propio, a non-profit that connects people with Spanish-speaking licensed therapists.

Amor Propio wants the City of Minneapolis to deny the restaurant’s liquor license because Quito is charged with raping a minor employee and the restaurant broke labor laws–the minor was a bartender which is not legal in Minnesota.  

City Council Vice President Aisha Chughtai, who represents the LynLake area, said what happened at Los Andres was “deeply disturbing."

“I will do everything I can to ensure survivors and community members feel safe at home, in our neighborhoods, and at their workplaces,” Chughtai said. Chughtai is not on the committee that will vote on Los Andes’ liquor license.  

Signs held up during the protest had messages in Spanish that read, “All women deserve respect,” “If you touch one, we all respond,” and “My life has value, my body does not have a price.”  

The current operator of Los Andes, Guillermo Quito, told Southwest Voices on Wednesday that his brother Christian will be leaving the company and he had no comment on the protest.

“I have 32 employees under my supervision that I need to feed,” Quito said.