An Ontario business is raising money to help an African-American man stabbed on December 21 in what police called a racially motivated attack inside a fast-food restaurant.

The Idaho State Journal newspaper reported that Mackey’s Steakhouse & Pub has helped raise nearly $4,000 to help Hughes with medical bills.

The Ontario Police Department said Ronnell Hughes, 48, had been seeking a job at an Arby’s Restaurant inside the Pilot Truck Stop when he was abruptly stabbed “without provocation.” Police said Arby’s employees came to his rescue and subdued the attacker.

Police arrested Nolan Strauss, a 26-year-old white man from Nebraska. Authorities said Strauss, a driver for May Trucking Co., will likely face charges including attempted murder, assault and committing a bias crime.

The Idaho paper reported that Hughes started working at Mackey’s one day before the attack. When steakhouse owner Angie Grove learned of the crime, she told the paper she wanted to do something to show that her community doesn’t tolerate hate.

“I just think it’s our personal responsibility, if there is something you can reach out and do in your own community, no matter how big or small it doesn’t matter,” she told the paper.

Mackey’s held a silent auction that raised $900 and donated a percentage of their sales to the help Hughes. That raised $1,800. Cash donations brought in another $1,200.

A GoFundMe account has also been set up to help Hughes.

--Tom Hallman Jr.; thallman@oregonian.com; 503 221-8224; @thallmanjr

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