MORROW, Ga. -- Local civil rights leaders are furious with Cracker Barrel over its handling of a racially motivated attack there earlier this month.

In a story that’s getting national attention, Morrow police said surveillance video and witnesses caught a man beating a mother who is also a soldier and calling her racial slurs.

Troy Dale West is accused of violently beating Tashawena Hill at a Morrow Cracker Barrel. Police said West also called Hill several racial slurs.

The incident happened after Hill said West almost hit her daughter with the door in the front enterence way. When Hill asked West to please watch out, that’s when Hill said West started to punch and kick her.

Activists want to know what the restaurant is going to do to keep customers safe.

They also want to know where the surveillance tape is showing the attack. They believe the company is hiding something.

“There are differing versions of what happened here. We've been told Cracker Barrel employees did not render any aid,” said community activist Derrick Boazman.

Boazman made very strong statements Friday against Cracker Barrel's management.

Civil rights leaders scheduled a sit down meeting and when Cracker Barrel cancelled, the gloves came off.

“Cracker Barrel has had a checkered history about having racially intolerant behavior at its locations,” said Boazman.

That statement immediately raised a red flag because it appeared that Boazman, the Rainbow Push Coalition and Al Sharpton's Action Network were holding Cracker Barrel partially responsible for the Sept. 9 attack.

Reports are that Cracker Barrel employees rushed to Hill's aid.

“If it's true that employees are the ones, don't they deserve thanks as opposed to what you are doing now,” asked CBS Atlanta’s Harry Samler.

Boazman claimed CBS Atlanta was making assumptions. He said the real issue is the surveillance video showing the attack.

Activists want it released now. They believe Cracker Barrel has it and is hiding something.

Cracker Barrel released a statement saying that, “the Clayton County District Attorney has expressed a strong preference that Cracker Barrel not release the video to the media; we are complying with the District Attorney’s request to ensure the integrity of the investigation and the legal process.”

West is from Poulan, Ga. which is about three hours south of Atlanta.

CBS Atlanta’s Tony McNary went to Poulan to find out if this case is affecting race relations in that small town.

"I know he's probably making everyone in South Georgia look like a racist," said one man.

“Is he a racist? No, I can't say to me. No he hasn't did nothing to me," said Helen Warren who went to school with West.

People who live in Poulan, where the post office, the general store, police station and city hall make up downtown, said racial tensions were already high.

"I think this is going to divide people down here that will say something good or bad about Troy," said West’s cousin.

West’s cousin said no matter what people says he's not a racist.

"Let me tell you, the blacks always try to say that's the thing and they are more prejudice than we are," said West’s cousin.

“I mean I went to school with a lot of them, played football, I mean colored, Hispanics all of them. Most of our friends around here are different race so it's not racist around her a bit. Some people might be, some might not, so it's is the South so. You have some that might be and some that don't really look at it that way," said resident Keaton tucker.

The police chief of Poulan told CBS Atlanta he hasn't had any problem since West's case made the news.

He said the only thing he has been dealing with is threatening phone calls made to West and his family.

Hill was interviewed Thursday and said the attention is overwhelming.

"I'm not comfortable with it at all," Hill said. "It's actually a little embarrassing and frustrating. I'm scared."

Hill said both she and her daughter Shiyenn, who witnessed the beating, are receiving counseling.

Hill said that she hopes West is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

West has been banned from all Cracker Barrel restaurants for life.