Three B.C. men have been charged with an assault caught on amateur video that police have suggested may have had racial overtones.
The charges relate to a fight in the Vancouver Island town of Courtenay on July 3, which was filmed by a witness and posted on YouTube.
Jay Phillips, who is black, is seen on the video being attacked by three men who can he heard shouting racial slurs during the fight.
The RCMP have charged 19-year-old David White, 24-year-old Adam Huber and 25-year-old William Rogers with assault.
Police have said they are investigating possible racial overtones.
The three accused told a TV station they are not racists and claim Phillips started the incident by tossing a hamburger at them, but Phillips denies he did anything to set off the fight.
When CTV News caught up with the three on Thursday at a Courtenay residence, they said they have become outcasts in their own Vancouver Island community and are preparing to move out of town.
The YouTube video has been viewed at least 100,000 times around the world, sparking outrage in a community where residents say they are embarrassed by what happened.
