NY State Senator Wants to Make Calling 911 on Black Folks in White Spaces a Hate Crime

[sheshe2]

New York State Senator Jesse Hamilton wants to make calling the police on black folks living their best life a hate crime after a self-described Trump fan called the police on him.

Hamilton, who represents the neighborhoods of Brownsville, Crown Heights and Flatbush in Brooklyn, N.Y., told Patch that the new law would “criminalize 911 calls against people of color without evidence of malice.”

“That’s gonna be a hate crime,” Hamilton said. “This pattern of calling the police on black people going about their business and participating in the life of our country has to stop.”

According to Patch, Hamilton would like to strengthen current laws that ban people from giving false reports and making racially motivated 911 calls a hate crime, especially in cases where police are dispatched.

Hamilton wants to make a distinction between actual calls where someone appears to be a threat and a person whose color is deemed threatening.

Read More:https://www.theroot.com/ny-state-senator-wants-to-make-calling-911-on-black-fol-1828389824

[brer cat]

1. The motivation for making the calls is hate.

K&R

[sheshe2]

6. Yes it is, brer.

Any call could prove fatal.
Time they paid a price.

[heaven05]

84. this+++

no other reason for the recent spate of Becky and Bob calls on AA who affront their whiteness and privilege. Which they are counting on, white privilege and entitlement, trumping the unfairness of their racist calls and justifying their anger and hate at brown skin and existence. That's all I can figure from the Becky and Bob calls

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

2. Brings up all sorts of questions

Will 9 11 dispatchers get into debates with callers once description of subject or subjects are given? Which btw most dispatchers ask for.

I get the reason but can worms is not the right words.

[sheshe2]

7. Not sure what the problem is here.

911 is an emergency line there would be no debate. The operators do not press charges or decide a callers fate. That would be up to the courts.

These calls are racially motivated by privileged white people.

[brush]

80. I would think the way to handle it is if it turns out to be a "living while black or brown or...

Muslim" call, the dispatcher has the number of the caller, and therefore the caller's info is easily accessed. After the police report is made and it turns out it was bogus, racist call that expended police time and money, a comensurate "fine notice" is sent out by mail like is done in those jurisdictions with traffic violation cameras.

And voila!

An instant revenue source for the city with minimal expense. The fine would of course excalates if it isn't paid in time.

Steep enough, escalating fines will put a stop to most of those bullshit calls.

[heaven05]

83. no can of worms

hasn't been yet. Generic Becky or Bob calls on AA for some perceived affront to their whiteness, the police show up, AA dead or handcuffed and arrested. No can of worms there. But you're right they have a right to call on their hate of black people and I have a right to call them on their hate. Right?

[2naSalit]

3. K&R!!!

[mercuryblues]

4. I hope 87 year old

Moslem, grandmothers picking dandelions are included. Even though it happened in Georgia, it can happen anywhere.


https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/national/year-old-woman-tased-police-while-cutting-dandelions-family-says/58wIGuSiFw0evdEmeHl3GO/

[sheshe2]

8. God yes.

[heaven05]

86. I read that

disgusting. Grandmama is pretty strong thank God. She beat the white privilege and hate. So many haven't and died by these Becky and Bob hate calls on 'others' than white people.

[AncientGeezer]

5. That's not going to happen even here in NY...way to subjective.

Who decides "racially motivated"?
Would Never withstand SCOTUS review.

[sheshe2]

10. To subjective until a person dies while..

walking, shopping, barbecuing, working or sleeping?

[hughee99]

52. If a person dies at the hands of the police dispatched as the result of a 911 call, is the root of

problem the person who called 911, or the police who killed someone who was walking, shopping, barbecuing, working or sleeping?

[Aristus]

63. There's always the possibility that these white people call the police on innocent black

people knowing that the police are predisposed to coming out blasting away at people of color. Since cops usually get a paid vacation and a slap on the wrist, it follows that a hate-caller would feel indemnified againt any sort of punishment.

"Well, they didn't do anything to the cop who did the actual shooting..."

That kind of thing.

[Mariana]

73. I'm certain that is true, for some of the callers.

Now, how do you prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a particular 911 call was made for that reason?

[Aristus]

74. It seems like one of those things which is almost impossible to prove.

Which, no doubt, the callers are counting on...

[Mariana]

75. Yes. You'd pretty much have to have someone

say to a witness, "I'm going to call the cops on that [AA person] over there. I hope they shoot his ass." or brag about it afterward to someone who would report them. How often does that happen?

[heaven05]

94. if the AA person was doing

nothing illegal, that is a big part of the proof Becky and Bob hate the existence of brown skin that is an affront to their whiteness, privilege and entitlement, I would think. But of course .....nah , no excuses, they hate black skin.

[Mariana]

98. You can't make it a crime to call police

who then find that no illegal activity is taking place. Lots of people call 911 because they think a crime might be taking place, but they aren't sure. It's very hard to prove such a call isn't genuine, and that's the cover these racists hide behind. "It looks like they might be selling drugs/stealing a bicycle/drunk and disorderly/etc.etc.etc. over there."

[heaven05]

108. It will be a crime

in the eyes of the proposed law when a person knows they could get in trouble and/or face a large fine if nothing was going on to warrant police coming. Most of the Becky's and Bob's are asserting their white privilege and entitlement and some even want to see a AA killed. I face hateful looks now from white people I have not seen since the 50's and all on here saying that should be ignored because it might not be racial just don't get it. But never mind, I give the hate right back and that is that. It might not be racial but it is.

[heaven05]

91. this+++

all these Becky's and Bob's feel that way,"perfectly indemnified". Excellent.

[hughee99]

120. Yes, but if you're going to try to fix A problem, wouldn't that be THE problem to fix? n/t

[Hekate]

12. Nowadays, when 911 is called on any black or brown child, woman, or man ...

...it puts their very life in danger. There better be a damned good reason for that call besides "I feel uncomfortable."

[sheshe2]

20. Yes, Hekate.

They are being put in danger and someone is going to die from these stupid frivolous calls.

[Hekate]

22. Any number of people already have died, like a smallish 12 y.o. boy playing in a park at dusk

[heaven05]

95. Tamir Rice

was called on by a Becky. 11 years old when shot within 2.5 seconds of police arriving. He was playing in the park. Yep.

[AncientGeezer]

23. I'm just saying...

It'll never pass in NY...and would never stand up in SCOTUS.. if for some reason it did pass in NY, I would hope Cuomo would be smart enough to veto it..

Who get's to decide what calls are "hate crimes"...
I wish people weren't racist...but to try to determine after the fact, what was in a callers mind...fear or hate....during a 9-1-1 call...are we going to put that on 9-1-1 dispatchers, political appointees, a DA that may have a bias...the cost alone to litigate this poor idea would bust our State budget if every call were put to this test. It won't be a 1 way street..how many whites will yell hate crime if an AA makes the 9-1-1 and it's a dud?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

28. Cases apply the "reasonable person" criteria.

If this law passed, then the criteria would be "Would a reasonable person think the black person was a threat" for, say, unlocking their own business or using their own pool at a condo.

In practice, there would have to be some other aspect that introduces the hate aspect, such as name calling or insulting or a history of bigotry or any number of factors that can show a pattern or a frame of mind at the time. Then the question becomes "Would a reasonable person conclude that yelling the n-word shows hatred", for example.

[uponit7771]

54. +1

[heaven05]

96. legalese

excuses for white people calling on black people doing nothing illegal. It is a matter of black skin affront white privilege and entitlement to call if they so please. The rest is BS. THE trumper Becky and Bob always walk away scot-free even when their is a murder of an innocent, unarmed AA. White people are david duke slicker these days. They won't insult or threaten the black person so their hate wouldn't be evident. But the fact is that black skin makes these pigs call because that t AA being confronted by white privilege and entitlement is alive with brown skin. Period. Dance around all you want. I know racism and hate of brown skin is the motivation.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

102. You haven't really read my post because you aren't responding to what it contains.

Further, what does the acronym SDA abbreviate within the Democratic Party?

[heaven05]

107. oh I have responded

and in the correct manner. I read your post. Okay

[sheshe2]

34. Why

t'll never pass in NY...and would never stand up in SCOTUS.. if for some reason it did pass in NY, I would hope Cuomo would be smart enough to veto it..

Why would it go to SCOTUS? Why should Cuomo veto it?

Who get's to decide what calls are "hate crimes"...

Umm, well that would be the courts.

I wish people weren't racist...but to try to determine after the fact, what was in a callers mind...I wish people weren't racist...but to try to determine after the fact, what was in a callers mind...fear or hate....during a 9-1-1 call...are we going to put that on 9-1-1 dispatchers, political appointees, a DA that may have a bias...the cost alone to litigate this poor idea would bust our State budget if every call were put to this test.

Isn't this what the courts do every dayum day in many cases? They determine intent after the fact! I cannot believe that you think fear motivated this recent flurry of 911 calls. It was white privilege and racism pure and simple. So, you say the cost is to high and we should just let it go.

It won't be a 1 way street..how many whites will yell hate crime if an AA makes the 9-1-1 and it's a dud?

Sorry, I have to laugh here. To funny. AA making the 911 calls...

[MichMan]

55. AA don't ever call 911 to report crimes ?

All the 911 calls in Detroit must be made by white people.

I wasn't aware of that

[sheshe2]

64. Did you even bother to read the article?

“criminalize 911 calls against people of color without evidence of malice.”

Hamilton would like to strengthen current laws that ban people from giving false reports and making racially motivated 911 calls a hate crime, especially in cases where police are dispatched.

Hamilton wants to make a distinction between actual calls where someone appears to be a threat and a person whose color is deemed threatening.

[MichMan]

122. Did you notice that I was replying to the post above mine and not the OP?

See. when you reply to a post, your reply is by definition associated with the post you are replying too, not something posted the day before. If I wanted to reply to the OP, I would have.

Since I replied to the post above mine that stated "Sorry, I have to laugh here. To funny. AA making the 911 calls... " my reply therefore hadd nothing to do with the OP, nor was it intened to.

[sheshe2]

124. I will respond any way I please

...in context to my OP and thread, Mich.

[heaven05]

97. really???

good one. Nice distraction, diversion answer. I noticed a lot of those after the murder of an unarmed and innocent AA. Good one. nah.

[MichMan]

123. I was replying to the post above mine..........

That stated

"Sorry, I have to laugh here. To funny. AA making the 911 calls... "

I din't think it was an accurate statement. Do you ?

[Hekate]

45. I'm just saying you may be unclear how the concept of a hate crime came to be a legal thing

"Stand your ground laws" are pretty much ALL about white people deciding to kill black people -- or, let me be more explicit: about white MEN deciding to kill black people. Trayvon Martin, a kid walking back to his own home holding a soda and a bag of Skittles triggered one such pathetic soul so badly that Trayvon just had to die. How is that not a hate crime?

I am sick of it. I am an older white woman who somehow thought this country had outgrown the public celebration of black murders -- you know, there are postcards from the 1920s enshrining lynchings: a broken black body hanging from a tree surrounded by white men and boys from the surrounding area, sometimes with the local sheriff standing by giving his blessing.

What the hell, America? What the hell? I am enraged.

[AncientGeezer]

56. Trayvon wasn't decided of Stand you Ground.

[Hekate]

58. The difference in motive and outcome being?

[smirkymonkey]

119. +1000

[tblue37]

62. It is a form of SWATTING. nt

[sheshe2]

65. Wow!

Yes, exactly tblue.

Thank you.

[Hekate]

88. Well spotted, tblue

[heaven05]

89. If I am black

and doing nothing illegal but living, which is an affront to white privilege and entitlement, I DECIDE. Simple. Yet with the SC NOW stacked with racist people, you're right. They would tell me to fuck off, nicely of course in perfect legalese.👴🏽

[Bernardo de La Paz]

9. They are NOT "white spaces". Who used that nonsense designation?

They are public spaces or private spaces. They are not "white spaces". In any case, the black people involved are there rightfully.

"white spaces"? Does the article use that term?

[bucolic_frolic]

13. "White spaces" is territoriality where none is clearly defined

Calling for a valid reason is appropriate. "Being there" is not a valid reason. "Looking suspicious" is not a valid reason. But if they can point to a specific behavior that is dangerous or offensive, that is a valid reason.

This is growing in size and magnitude instead of retreating to common sense public safety.

[sheshe2]

21. Excellent response, bucolic_frolic.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

26. I know the problem, which is why I wonder who'd buy into the bigot's term "white space" & use it.

You are absolutely right "white space" is not valid, and that the number of problem callers seems to be growing.

[sheshe2]

14. Well, Bernardo...

The callers sure seem to think they are white spaces, why else would white people be making those calls on black people to an emergency number no less? What was the emergency for barbecuing, smoking a cigarette, riding a bike, parking a car, entering your own apartment...etc?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

25. So who would play the callers' game & use their framing & refer to them as "white spaces"?

[sheshe2]

29. It is not a 'game', Bernardo....

and black and brown people know it. So does the black person that called it 'white spaces' because they are calling it as they see it. White people only.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

31. I think the two guys at their pool don't call it "white spaces" but call it "our pool".

I'm sure that the woman blocked trying to enter her own gated community calls it "home" and not "white space".

I'm confident the African-Americans barbecuing called it their city's park and not "white space".

[sheshe2]

35. No.

Sorry you are not getting it. It is the white caller that believes it is their white space not the POC that are occupying what others believe is theirs. Sorta like the colored restrooms and water fountains vs the white only.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

37. I know it's the white callers. Thus it is strange to see someone (who?) accepting that terminology

Is "white spaces" in the article?

Calling some places "white spaces" is accepting it just like using "fireman" is accepting male dominance of firefighter jobs. "Firefighters" is so much better.

It's similar to George Lakoff's points about how the Republicons frame discussions (for example) as being about "death panels" instead of "health care distribution".

It would be much better to say something like "white-claimed spaces" because then it makes the point that the bigots are claiming what they do not own.

[sheshe2]

40. No.

I think "white spaces " are perfectly clear. We already know they claim what is not their own. That is why we call them privileged and racist.

[heaven05]

104. Doesn't have to be

in an article when the white person perpetrating the white hate privilege and entitlement insults a perfectly legal and innocent black person like the Becky's and Bob's have continually done and continue to do. It simple la paz for those who have common sense and/or are on the receiving end of Becky and Bob's hate.

[heaven05]

109. don't even waste your

Last edited Fri Aug 17, 2018, 05:03 PM - Edit history (1)

time with his word games. Not worth it. Alway the same.

[LanternWaste]

66. It's very tough to realize that a lily can is fact, be a flower as well.

Regardless of what we allege to be confident in what others may or may not call it.

[Hekate]

92. And I am just as sure that the white people are thinking: "We belong here, and you don't. Go away."

Or, "I feel all uncomfortable in my delicacy, so maybe I'll call 911 and the well-armed cops will make me feel better by making these unwanted people go away or just make their lives hell."

[Bernardo de La Paz]

93. Yes, indeed. Exactly. . . . nt

[heaven05]

101. you are just

playing with words that evade the truth. That is apparent. Why?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

105. No. I'm very serious and mean what I write. Read it for comprehension. . . . nt

[MadDAsHell]

59. Why would we embrace racist language?

This makes about as much sense as embracing “fake news” and “pro-life.”

[LanternWaste]

67. You're conflating 'co-opt to make an obvious' with embrace.

And if you're unable to perceive the wholly obvious point, that's on you.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

68. MadDas quite perceptive. Calling it something like "white-claimed space" is obvious & not co-opted.

[heaven05]

111. "white spaces"

explains completely why two AA in one a very white college get the police called on her while eating. She tutoring future college students chemistry and one was sleeping in a white space. It's obvious what's wanted. A lily white space without black skin affronting that pureness, white privilege and entitlement to want that "white space". It's simple and clear to those on the receiving ends of white privilege, entitlement and haters of black skin.

[heaven05]

100. You are wrong

Last edited Fri Aug 17, 2018, 05:07 PM - Edit history (3)

the white person calling on those people at the pools say we're asserting that the pool was a "white space" unattainable to AA. Only some dunce asserting their white privilege and entitlement rules would think silly, stupid shit like that but they do. The Becky's calling on sleeping and eating AA women in predominantly white colleges were asserting the same white privilege and entitlement the pool Becky's and Bob's did. Those black women did not belong there in that 'white space'.

You can dance all around white hate being the motivation for these Becky's and Bob'sracist hate at being affronted by black skin in a place they would like to keep white, doesn't make the grade.

The hate looks I get NOW, that I haven't had to endure since partially growing up in the South in the 50's started with these Becky and Bob calls and they tell me what they are insulted by. But their potus trump enabling and emboldening these racist pigs has given them the green light to let what's been hidden all these years out. Simple for a person on the receiving end to deduct. You want to be insulted by someone stating the truth of what a Becky or Bob is asserting when they call the police on a perfectly innocent and legal action/activity by a black person invading, their motivation, a "white space"? Okay. I don't care.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

103. Woosh! Of course it is a white bigot term. Don't buy into and call them "white spaces".

That's ceding ownership!

Thread contains alternative non-bigot terminology to use. Like calling people who fight fires "firefighters" instead of "firemen". Language has power.

[heaven05]

106. Really

okay

[Hekate]

11. Works for me. I am absolutely sickened by what has been happening...

When I was a kid I was taught by my parents, my teachers, and by the cop visiting the school that we should never dial "0" as a prank or without very good cause. It was said that you could get in big trouble for wasting the time of police, firefighters, and ambulance drivers.

What ever happened to that?

[lunasun]

16. ++All this above ++

[sheshe2]

17. Agree, Hekate.

The calls are escalating. What happens when a real emergency cannot get through?

[uponit7771]

19. +1

[mwooldri]

15. I have a similar idea.

Make wasting police time a crime.

Calling 911 on your neighbours for something trivial is a crime.

If we need to throw in a racial element as extra garnish then maybe... but I think there would be more support for laws that make wasting police time a crime.

[brer cat]

30. Well, certainly there would be more support

if the law was written to protect all people; after all #whitelivesmatter! It is very common these days to read about people calling 911 to report that their neighbor is swimming while white, or walking while white, or even breaking into their own home while white. My goodness, but the incidents of white people being gunned down by police for no reason other than the whiteness of their skin has reached epidemic proportions. Sure, we could toss in a "racial element" if you don't think that would taint the final product. I would be very careful how that is worded though; you wouldn't want it to appear that black or brown people were getting any extra attention.

[sheshe2]

49. You are a keeper.

Thanks for saying what I am to tired to say.

Yes, imagine all those white people getting a 911 called on them just for living in their skin doing everyday things. Just imagine.

[heaven05]

112. +++

I'm worn out with the BS some people try to pass off as intellect too.

[sheshe2]

125. Hey!

[Scurrilous]

18. K&R

[Tribalceltic]

24. Law against abusing 911 are already on the books

https://codes.findlaw.com/ny/penal-law/pen-sect-240-50.html

Making a hate crime is a great idea and sorely needed. The laws also need to be more strongly enforced.

Funny how crimes that I consider much lower priority like traffic infractions and small drug charges are enforced aggressively.

[Solly Mack]

27. K&R

[Renew Deal]

32. Jesse Hamilton has betrayed the Democratic party and his constituents by joining the IDC

He should lose his upcoming primary.

[MichMan]

33. Trying to figure out how this would work

If a white person calls 911 on a black person and the POC isn't found to have violated any laws, does that mean the white person automatically gets charged with making a hate complaint?


In my area, every police call gets routed through 911; there isn't really any other non emergency way to contact the police dept

[sheshe2]

38. Why in the world...

Two examples. A woman sleeping in a common area of a dorm and another eating in a cafeteria. Both students of that college.

Why in the world would ANYONE of SOUND MIND call 911 on them. Why?

[kiri]

41. Police always have a non-emergency number

I doubt your account is true.

Here, you can call the police/cops city telephone number and immediately say, "This is not an emergency!" "Nothing is life-threatening." Usually you can get to the issue--car parked unmoved for 2 months; neighbor in difficulty,...
----------------
Just once out of maybe 8 times in 20 years did the cop say call 911 and then hung up.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

51. In Chicago any call that requests a police officer to be dispatched ALWAYS goes to 911

[MichMan]

43. Driving home from work late at night....

…… I observe a driver in front of me driving erratically. I suspect they are drunk and call the police with a description of the car. Person gets pulled over, given a breathalyzer and they show no evidence of drinking, so are free to continue on to their destination. Driver claims he wasn't doing anything wrong and isn't happy to be stopped for nothing.

I am white and the driver is black. Should I be arrested for a hate crime for calling 911 ? Or let a potential DUI risk others by doing nothing?

Look, I get what Hamilton is trying to accomplish, just can't see how it could ever be implemented

[sheshe2]

50. If you read the OP you know the answer to that.

In fact I highlighted it.

I am white and the driver is black. Should I be arrested for a hate crime for calling 911 ? Or let a potential DUI risk others by doing nothing?

[Me.]

36. About Time

[sheshe2]

39. Yep.

Thanks, Me.

[Tiggeroshii]

42. Isnt calling the police over frivolous things illegal anyways?

[sheshe2]

44. Illegal yes.

Hate crime, no. These are hate crimes.

[Hekate]

46. The callers are pointing a loaded weapon at people going about their lives when 911 is called...

Swimming in their condo's pool, a grade schooler selling water bottles on a hot day, having a family and friends bbq in a public city park, a old woman digging dandelions -- what the hell, America? We now know the record of the police in all its brutalty thanks to the ubiquity of smart-phones -- and really, calling the cops is like pointing a loaded weapon at your fellow citizens, and for what?

I. Am. Enraged.

[sheshe2]

47. "The callers are pointing a loaded weapon at people going about their lives when 911 is called..."

That is exactly what they are doing, Hekate. And I don't understand the push back in this thread.

Thank you.


I am enraged too.

[mythology]

57. Because it's a poorly thought out idea

It's kind of amusing that the same people complaining that cops are likely to shoot minorities (and statistically speaking, it's still unlikely) want the cops to be charging 911 callers with hate crimes for calling 911.

There are already laws against calling 911 without cause, but short of a clear cut case where the caller says something like "oh there are these, insert racial slur here, doing something", it's not really of any use.

There's also the potential impact of making people not call 911 when they should to consider.

[MineralMan]

72. "There's also the potential impact of making people not call 911 when they should to consider."

Do you know what groups of people almost never call 911? Do you know why? I encourage you to think further about this.

Many, if not most, people of color will not call 911, for fear they will become victims of the police. If you do not understand that, then you do not understand a great deal. Think about it.

[heaven05]

114. "Unlikely"?????

okay.

[heaven05]

113. +++THIS

I. Am. Enraged. also. they want to see death.

[KentuckyWoman]

48. It should be charged as attempted murder.

The way cops like to shoot anyone darker than copy paper, there's a good chance death by cop will happen.

[workinclasszero]

53. It should be a hate crime

to call the police on black kids mowing lawns and selling lemonade, just to name a few things done recently.

[MadDAsHell]

60. Why would the law only protect people of color?

I’d make it apply to calls based on skin color period, not just people “of color.”

In fact, why not make the law apply to calls based on ANY demographic characteristic, including gender expression, sexual orientation, etc.? I’m confused why we’re proposing such an incredibly narrow law. Also wondering who gets to interpret what the caller’s motivation was?

[sheshe2]

61. Posted above.

Tribalceltic (544 posts)
24. Law against abusing 911 are already on the books

https://codes.findlaw.com/ny/penal-law/pen-sect-240-50.html

Making a hate crime is a great idea and sorely needed. The laws also need to be more strongly enforced.

Funny how crimes that I consider much lower priority like traffic infractions and small drug charges are enforced aggressively.

They are not narrowing it at all the law already exists...now the are making it a hate crime.

[heaven05]

126. proposed because

the white caller, by and large, wants to see the death of a black person. You know I grew up in a time and a place where white people openly called AA, a n****r. That was race-based. No white person was arrested for that or even chastised. Well, the reason a law like the one proposed should be race specific now is the white people's potus has told some of the same kind of hateful racist pigs that they can use that word openly now, AGAIN. Wow, deja vu, RACIST ameriKKKan HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF which they think gives them the green light to bring about a 21st-century lynching of a n****r, death by the white police officer responding to a bogus call. I don't know why I waste my time since people know motivation here and deny up and down.

That's what's sad and maddening about ameriKKKan racism. It would go away if WHITE people stood up. They won't and haven't in great enough numbers to end it. The closest we got to a person who might have helped end it was MLK. ONE of the reasons he was assassinated was because he was a unifying factor in race relations and white people were standing up in great numbers. He died, Robert Kennedy who I believe might have been a champion of equality was assassinated. All downhill after that. Nixon-Atwater, Reagan, Bush and now trump the arch-racist as potus. He wants us at each other's throats and the ones he represents, they have made sure we stay there.

All this diversion, distraction and denials concerning Becky and Bob, the racist police calling on ni**ers twins, is very, very telling.

[MineralMan]

69. The number of such calls seems to be increasing.

I know what you mean by "white spaces," too. It's any place that white people think is only for the use of white people. And that pretty much is defined by places white people happen to be at any given time.

Based on some of the videos I've seen, it looks to me like many of the callers are hoping for an incident where the police cause harm to the person they called about. They want to be able to say, "serves him/her right."

Since it's impossible for me to experience the world as anything but a old white guy, I have to try to put myself in others' shoes as best I can. Nobody has ever bothered me for using a coat hanger to unlock my car on the street. Nobody has called the police when I went into my house through a window because I forgot my keys. Why? Because I'm a white guy. People assume that I'm doing something legitimate.

When I imagine myself doing those things as a person of color, though, I can realize that both of those actions would be very risky behavior. Someone would probably call the cops. And the cops might very well make a similar assumption and make it very difficult for me to make them understand that I'm not doing something illegal.

So, I do get this. I'm not sure a law will do a lot of good, but I sure understand the need for something to be done. There are people who will deliberately put someone in danger of a violent encounter with police, just based on their own bigotry and racism. Such people are more numerous than privileged folks think, I'm sure.

Ugh!

[sheshe2]

70. Thank you so much for your response, MM.

I know what you mean by "white spaces," too. It's any place that white people think is only for the use of white people. And that pretty much is defined by places white people happen to be at any given time.

Based on some of the videos I've seen, it looks to me like many of the callers are hoping for an incident where the police cause harm to the person they called about. They want to be able to say, "serves him/her right."

A poster above actually said, saying "white spaces" is racist, if you can believe that.




+++ on all you posted.

[MineralMan]

71. I'm often surprised at what some posters say here.

Privilege often causes blindness, apparently, even among people who see themselves as not having any bigotry in them.

Opening their eyes seems like a worthwhile goal to me.

[janterry]

81. We have no information to say this is happening more

It's clear that these instances are being reported more, in the news. Part of that might be because people can record the incident and/or feel empowered to report it on social media.

Unless we see real data, however, we can't assert anything about the prevalence of these types of calls.

[MineralMan]

82. I see.

Well, actually what I see is probably not what you wanted me to see, though.

Bye.

[janterry]

85. I'm not trying to show anyone anything

Just that we need good data.

(Fallibillist that I am

[Hekate]

87. There's a surprising amount of that going on in this thread...

Color me kind of sad to have to argue about it at DU.

[MineralMan]

90. Yes. Unfortunate.

[heaven05]

117. okay, really???

[janterry]

121. Data is always clarifying

I have no opinion about where it will lead.

Just that we need it

[heaven05]

116. +100 nt

[Proud Liberal Dem]

76. Do 911 dispatchers have to report every call to LE?

Are they able to screen out patently false reports? It seems like a few simple questions could help them determine whether or not the Permit Pattys out there are dealing with a potentially dangerous would-be assailant or a harmless child trying to sell Lemonade/

[ck4829]

77. K&R

[beachbum bob]

78. the real answer thats simple is to send the white person a bill from the police dept....

why not?

[sheshe2]

79. Actually...

That is not a bad idea at all, bob.

[Downtown Hound]

99. Well meaning but very problematic in practice

They should just enforce the law already on the books about misuse of police resources.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

110. Excellent idea!!

[Gothmog]

115. K&R

[trueblue2007]

118. These hate calls seemed to have started AFTER Trump came onto the scene.