Kenzie Smith, BBQing while black
Jennifer Schulte, a white woman, called the police on a group of black people who were legally barbecuing at a public park in Oakland, California. Schulte told the group barbecuing “It’s illegal to have a charcoal grill in the park here,” as she was on her cellphone calling the police. During the first of two calls to police against the group, Schulte told a male dispatcher that two men needed to be “dealt with immediately” so “that coals don’t burn more children and we don’t have to pay more taxes.” Schulte made a second call to police approximately 3 hours later stating “I was wondering when the police are going to come and help me!” while claiming that the group was “harassing” her. The group could be heard objecting to Schulte’s allegations in the background. No arrests were made.
Camilla Hudson, Couponing while Black
A CVS manager, Morry Matson, called 911 on Hudson and accused her of using a phony coupon. The coupon was later confirmed to be valid and the two managers involved were terminated.
Corey Lewis, Babysitting while black
Lewis was babysitting two white children, ages 6 and 10, when an unidentified white woman approached them inside a suburban Walmart parking lot in Atlanta, GA. Lewis stated that “She pulled up to my vehicle and asked if the kids were all right… I responded ‘Why wouldn’t they be?'” The white woman responded with ‘Things look weird,’ and then she drove off,” Lewis reported. After leaving, Lewis stated that he realized that she was following them. It was reported that “after Lewis and the children arrived home, a police officer came in response to the woman’s call to 911. That was when the officer called the children’s parents, David Parker and Dana Mango, who verified that Lewis was their babysitter.
Sandra Thompson and Sandra Harrison, Golfing while black
Steve Chronister, a manager of the Grandview Golf Course in Dover Township called 911 against a group of black female golfers. The manager called 911 to complain that the women were playing golf too slowly, disobeying course rules and holding other golfers up. When asked by the dispatcher whether the golfers had any weapons, the caller responded “other than her mouth, there are no weapons.”No arrests were made.
Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, Meeting while Black
Nelson and Robinson were arrested at a Starbucks after a manager called 911, stating the men were occupying a table without buying anything and were refusing to leave. The men said they were waiting to meet with a business associate when police were called on them about three minutes after they sat down. The men were arrested and escorted out of the Starbucks.
Christian Cooper, Bird Watching while black
Amy Cooper was walking her dog while Christian Cooper happened to be bird watching in the same park. Their dispute began because Cooper’s dog was not on a leash, which was a violation of central park rules. The gentleman asked Amy to put her dog on the leash and their altercation started from there. Amy can be heard on the video telling Christian “I’m going to call 911 and tell them that an African American man is threatening my life.” No arrests were made.
Gerald Jones, Soccer while black
Jones was yelling instructions at his 13-year-old son during a youth soccer game in Ponte Vedra, Florida, when a white woman addressed him and then called sheriff’s deputies on Jones, even though Jones had volunteered to leave the game.
Salman Elmi and Abdi Hassan, Exercising while Black
Tom Austin threatened to call the police on a group of black men who were working out in the same gym has Austin. The men are the owners of Top Figure, a Minneapolis-based social media and branding agency. At the time of the incident, Austin and the gentlemen were using the amenities of their office building. Austin later called the building manager, who confirmed that the men currently hold a lease in the building.
Oumou Kanoute, Eating Lunch while black
Kanoute, a student at Smith College in Massachusetts was eating lunch in a dorm common area when a white college employee called police on Kanoute because the student believed that Kanoute looked “out of place”. No arrests were made.
Dirone Taylor, Mekhi Lee and Eric Rogers, Prom Shopping while black
Taylor and Lee Were shopping for prom outfits at a Nordstrom Rack in St. Louis when they were wrongly accused of shoplifting and had the police called on them even though they had made purchases. The police later released the young men after hearing their side of the allegations against them.
Brian Spurlock, Crafting while black
Police confronted Spurlock at a Hobby Lobby store in Trussville, Alabama, where he was returning merchandise. White employees called 911 because they said he vaguely resembled a suspect in a check-cashing scheme. Spurlock was asked to show his ID before police let him go.
D’Arreion Toles, Residing while black
Hilary Mueller. a white woman, was blocking him from entering the St. Louis apartment building where he is a resident. Mueller followed Toles to his unit, while demanding to see his key fob, asking what unit he lived in, and who Toles was coming to see. After Toles asked Mueller to stop following him, Mueller stood and watched Toles enter his unit. After watching Toles enter his unit, which confirmed his right to be in the residential building, Mueller called 911.
A personal account from a 911 operator, Walking while Black
The 911 dispatcher stated that a man called stating “There’s a woman pushing a shopping cart in front of my house.” The dispatcher responded “I’m sorry, I’m not getting it. What’s the problem?” the dispatcher stated that she “racked her brain for the correct penal code under which this infraction might fall.” The caller responded “You need to get out here now.” The dispatcher asked for futher clarification on the crime that was being reported and the caller responded “She’s black…. we don’t have people like her in this neighborhood. Just send someone out to get rid of her. I’m not talking to you anymore.” The caller abruptly hung up in the dispatchers face. The police were dispatched to the residence.
African American adults are not the only individuals being harassed: African American children are also being targeted
Jeremiah Harvey, Shopping while black
Harvey, a 9 year old boy, was wrongly accused of groping a white woman in a corner store in Brooklyn. The woman, Teresa Klein, called the police and claimed the boy had grabbed her butt. Surveillance footage from the store showed that Jeremiah’s backpack brushed Klein’s backside. No arressts were made.
Erin Austin and her 8 year old daughter, Business while black
An 8 year old girl was selling bottled water while being supervised by her Mom, when neighbor, Alison Ettel, called police out of belief that the 8 year old was selling water without a permit outside an apartment building. No arressts were made.