Investigation launched into Central Park incident involving white woman and black man
Category: News & Politics
Via: tessylo • 4 years ago • 48 commentsBy: AARON KATERSKY ABC News
ABC News
Investigation launched into Central Park incident involving white woman and black man
Investigation launched into Central Park incident involving white woman and black man
New York City's Commission on Human Rights launched an investigation Wednesday into the incident involving a woman who called police after encountering a black man while walking her dog in Central Park .
The commission sent a letter to the woman, Amy Cooper, requesting her cooperation.
MORE: White dog owner fired after calling 911 on black man in viral-video leash-law dispute
"At a time when the devastating impacts of racism in Black communities have been made so painfully clear -- from racial disparities in COVID-19 outcomes, to harassment of essential workers on the front lines -- it is appalling to see these types of ugly threats directed at one New Yorker by another," said Sapna V. Raj, Deputy Commissioner of the Law Enforcement Bureau at the NYC Commission on Human Rights.
PHOTO: This screen shot from a video shows the moment a woman called the police on Chris Cooper in Central Park and told them 'An African American man is threatening me.' (Chris Cooper)
"Efforts to intimidate Black people by threatening to call law enforcement draw on a long, violent and painful history, and they are unacceptable."
The commission said it learned of the incident from the video recorded by Christian Cooper, an African American bird-watcher, who asked Amy Cooper, who is white, to put a leash on her dog. She responded by threatening to call the police.
"I'm going to tell them there's an African American man threatening my life," she is heard on video saying.
MORE: Central Park confrontation sparks outrage overnight
The commission has the authority to fine violators of the law and can award compensatory damages to victims, including emotional distress damages and other benefits. It can also order trainings on the NYC Human Rights Law, changes to policies, and develop restorative justice relief such as community service and mediated apologies, in lieu of or in addition to fines and monetary relief.
PHOTO: This screen shot from a video shows the moment a woman called the police on Chris Cooper in Central Park and told them 'An African American man is threatening me.' (Chris Cooper)
Cooper has been fired from her job at the investment firm Franklin Templeton. The Central Park Civic Association has called for her to be banned from the park.
"The Central Park Civic Association condemns this behavior and is calling on Mayor de Blasio to impose a lifetime ban on this lady for her deliberate, racial misleading of law enforcement and violating behavioral guidelines set so that all can enjoy our city's most famous park," Association president Michael Fischer said.
Investigation launched into Central Park incident involving white woman and black man originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
PHOTO: This screen shot from a video shows the moment a woman called the police on Chris Cooper in Central Park and told them 'An African American man is threatening me.' (Chris Cooper)
"Efforts to intimidate Black people by threatening to call law enforcement draw on a long, violent and painful history, and they are unacceptable."
The commission said it learned of the incident from the video recorded by Christian Cooper, an African American bird-watcher, who asked Amy Cooper, who is white, to put a leash on her dog. She responded by threatening to call the police.
"I'm going to tell them there's an African American man threatening my life," she is heard on video saying.
I am surprised that she didn't use the N word instead of AAM. She is probably saving that for her other racist friends.
Why wasn't she arrested?
Makes me almost believe in karma! She lost her job, she lost her dog, and she just might lose some money or even her freedom temporarily.....
She will most likely get a fine and probation if the Da chooses to pursue this. Right now, most of the courts are either closed or on minimal operation. They most likely have a bad backlog of trials that involves some serious felonies.
Both of them were gone when the police arrived.
People are arrested when they have committed a felony or if they are committing a misdemeanor and refuse to stop, or police think they can’t safely be allowed to be free (like if they’re really drunk or something). There doesn’t seem to be a need to arrest anyone in this case.
For falsely saying the man was trying to harm her?
Nasty bitch.
I agree she was probably a bitch. Would you like to just execute her now? Is there any punishment that is too much?
Falsely filing a police report is not a crime?
Do you see her filing a police report? I don’t.
And even if something she did was criminal, it probably doesn’t rise to the level of requiring an arrest.
Isn't a misdemeanor usually greeted with a ticket and order to appear? Like speeding?
Yeah, arrests for misdemeanors are the exception, rather than the rule. Speeding is even easier. It’s an infraction. Technically not a crime in that you won’t go to jail for it.
Not in their world.
Watch the video again. She called the police and stated an African-American was threatening her. That is all it takes.
Apparently. A lot of spinning to try and excuse an obvious a$$hat.
She clearly felt threatened. We don't have to agree that she was actually in danger.
Who is trying to excuse her?
You know what I find amazing with the comments on here and the supposed racism is the fact that if the guy had left and the cops showed up, one of the first questions they would ask is "Can you describe the man who you feel threatened you?" what do you think would have been part of her answer? ................Yep
I agree with you Jim. I think he should have stayed around and shown the cops the video.
Yeah, but I have to agree with those who see her using racism as a weapon here. She latched on to him being black right away. She figured it would get special attention from police, and she figured he knew it too. (and she might be right)
Otherwise, she wouldn't have announced that she would be making that point in her call. She would have just said "I'm going to call the cops and tell them a man is threatening me." (actually, that's a form of sexism, but that's a whole other topic)
The city DA can still chose to prosecute.
Yes, by the dog? Because if given the choice or clear chance it would have torn into her butt!
Oh absolutely! A lot of people who are charged with crimes, though, don't go to jail right off.
Watch the video again, she was never approached within 10 feet, and she told him that she would do this if he didn't leave her alone, not in a fearful way.
Why are you going out of your way to defend this racist? She was wrong, everybody who has seen the video knows she is wrong, yet you are trying to excuse her actions.
I didn't say she felt her life was in danger. I said she felt threatened. If have to go into detail, I'd guess (and we have to guess because we can't read her mind) that she felt her privacy and personal dignity were being threatened. He was going to embarrass her and she was desperate to stop it.
Ummm lemme think about that.
. . .
[Deleted] I don't defend racism or racists.
That's a lie. I haven't tried to excuse any of her actions.
I'll tell you something, I see this quite a bit on this site where people do what you are doing here. You come on here and just try to attack people for saying something they didn't say or supporting something they don't support all so you can act morally superior by condemning it. It's a straw man, but more to the point, it's bullshit and it's evil. I think you should be ashamed of yourself for such a tactic.
Well, then we disagree. To me she never appeared "frightened", just indignant that someone would request she obey the law.
In a public park by requesting she follow the posted rules?
Embarrass her in front of her dog? Video showed no one else around.
No need to get insulting and personal.
Do you not feel her call to the police was racist in nature? She specifically pointed out, several times, that he was African-American. Is that something a normal person would do?
You are claiming her actions were motivated by fear, yet at no time during the video did she show any fear, just indignation that this person would dare address her.
So if you say something that I disagree with, you feel that I should not address and just ignore anything you say? You do understand that the name of this sight is NewsTALKERS, correct? I have never claimed you said anything that was wrong, just that I disagree with it and provided evidence to support my side. YOU'RE the one throwing insults around.
Maybe you can sign a executive order preventing anyone from disagreeing with you too.
I don't think the definition of "straw man" is what you think it is.
That woman was not threatened. Fearful people retreat to a place of safety. As you can see, she stood her ground, and but for the dog being agitated, her hands being free of it, she probably would have encroached upon him.
Here is the proof of it: Her employer fired her. They did not bite her "cheesy" and ridiculous performance. The climate of race relations, the stupidity of her disrespecting her dog, the clear wrong and verbal assault she inflicted on another person, made the public and those who control her income want her 'gone.'
Now then, her true "threat" is being unemployed and job-hunting in the time of Covid-19.
This is true.
Years ago, when I was a reg teacher, I took my 4th graders to park to go to the zoo and visit the very famous carousel. My students were mostly black with a few Latino children. We finished off at the zoo and went to the carousel to get a ride and some ice cream. The kids got on the carousel and started to mount the various horses. Now only a few go up and down, and so they are the most desirable. One of my girls got on an up and down one, and she was getting herself strapped in when literally a woman came up to her and shoved her off the horse (she fell to the ground, thank goodness she was not hurt) and put her kid on it. I saw the whole thing since I was checking the kids straps and I was right behind this horse, and I told her to get her kid off that horse or I was going to get a cop for physically assaulting my kid. She looked confused when I said "my kid" but said it never happened and refused and I got the carousel operator to get a cop (who was stationed in the area). I told the cop what happened and he asked me if she was my daughter (since I said she was my kid) and I said, no my student and asked the carousel operator if he has seen it happen (he said yes and agreed with me). The cop threw the mom and the kid out of the park with her yelling and screaming. I still can't get over the gall that she thought she could get away with that.
This activity is so disgusting on multiple levels. I hardly know where to begin reaching into this. I could say, she is generationally removed from this line of 'attack.' But, then I would have to ask where or from whom she learned it. Moreover, there is the matter of this woman has the audacity to tell the man her 'plans for him' while he is filming her!
Hollywood call my agent! A "Made for TV" moment.
There is the issue of white privilege being applied too! She broke out into the 'escalating tears' and sounds of a tussle which is supposed to 'activate' 911 agents into action and staying on line until help arrives. I am not sure if the black man was there when the police arrived (and/or if he was accosted).
They need to investigate the death threats she's getting as well.
[deleted]
I guess you reap what you sow eh sparty?
?? What do you mean??
The death threats.
Duh.
I didn't make any death threats. Did you?
[Deleted]
I don't want her dead. I want her to stay alive and think about the mess she created for herself.
Lifetime? For her whole, entire life she should be banned from all parks?
You could murder or rape someone in the park and I bet they would not ban you for life after you got out of prison.
Banning her for life seems sort of silly. It wasnt that big of a deal.
I'd say it was that big a deal.
I mean, I think she’s kind of a racist, entitled bitch, but some of the stuff I’m hearing about punishing her is a little over the top.
Christian Cooper is asking people to stop making death threats against the woman who called the cops on him
Well maybe she won't be such a racist entitled bitch anymore
Not a big enough deal to ban her from the park for life. I dont agree with that at all.
To each their own. I'm sure she can be a bigot lots of other places.
I think the dog would disagree.
John she stated:
She directly 'threatened' him with deliberate intent. Then she proceeded to carry out the action of doing just that! This, life and limb are in danger, is known in the community as how you get a police officer to come immediately (sirens blaring even) and possibly with guns drawn.
She viciously escalated this scene all out of proportions, looking for an effect. Whether she fully comprehended all depth of actions available to police in her fabricated scenario, death of the black man was certainly a possibility.
In effect, she was warning this black that her "performance' was designed to get him either arrested or shot to death! She should be banned for an indefinite period of time, even up to a lifetime. Cities can do it too.
I just want her banned from ever owning another dog.