Amy Cooper sues ex-employer for racial discrimination after viral Central Park incident - ABC News
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Her encounter with a Black birdwatcher last year sparked outrage nationwide.
ByMeredith Deliso May 27, 2021, 1:19 AM • 6 min read Share to FacebookShare to TwitterEmail this article
Amy Cooper, the white woman who called 911 over an encounter with a Black man while walking her dog in Central Park last year, has sued her former employer for alleged racial and gender discrimination.
The complaint was filed in New York federal court on Tuesday, exactly a year after Amy Cooper was caught on cellphone video in a verbal dispute with birdwatcher Christian Cooper, during which she falsely claimed to police that an "African American man" was threatening her and her dog.
The footage of the incident went viral on social media and sparked outrage. The following day, Amy Cooper was fired from her job at the Franklin Templeton investment firm. In a statement, the company said it terminated Amy Cooper immediately following an "internal review" of the incident and that "we do not tolerate racism of any kind."
The lawsuit alleged that Amy Cooper was "characterized as a privileged white female 'Karen'" due to the company's public statements and alleges that the company did not perform an investigation into the incident, as publicly stated, and did not speak with Christian Cooper or obtain the full 911 calls.
"Even a perfunctory investigation would have shown that Plaintiff did not shout at Christian Cooper or call the police from Central Park on May 25, 2020 because she was a racist -- she did these things because she was alone in the park and frightened to death after being selected as the next target of Christian Cooper, an overzealous birdwatcher engaged in Central Park's ongoing feud between birdwatchers and dog owners," the complaint stated.
The dispute occurred after Christian Cooper asked Amy Cooper to leash her dog, which was off-leash in a part of the park known as the Ramble where that is not allowed.
MORE: White dog owner fired after calling 911 on black man in viral-video leash-law dispute
The lawsuit alleges that Franklin Templeton "perpetuated and legitimized the story of 'Karen' vs. an innocent African American to its perceived advantage, with reckless disregard for the destruction of Plaintiff's life in the process" and charges that the company would not have fired her if she were a different race and gender.
It also claims the company's actions caused Amy Cooper to suffer "severe emotional distress" and that she was suicidal.
The lawsuit is seeking damages for loss of wages, bonus and unvested funds as well as emotional distress damages for alleged racial and gender discrimination, defamation and negligence, among other counts, in an amount to be determined at trial.
Franklin Templeton defended its actions in a statement to ABC News.
"We believe the circumstances of the situation speak for themselves and that the Company responded appropriately," a spokesperson said. "We will defend against these baseless claims."
A day after the confrontation, Amy Cooper issued a public apology in an interview with CNN.
MORE: Christian Cooper accepts apology from woman at center of Central Park confrontation
"It was unacceptable, and I humbly and fully apologize to everyone who's seen that video, everyone that's been offended … everyone who thinks of me in a lower light. And I understand why they do," she said.
"I'm not a racist. I did not mean to harm that man in any way," she added. "I think I was just scared. When you're alone in the Ramble, you don't know what's happening. It's not excusable, it's not defensible."
Christian Cooper accepted her apology in an interview with "The View" but said the incident was part of a much deeper problem of racism in the United States that must be addressed.
In July, Amy Cooper was charged with falsely reporting an incident in the third degree. The charge was ultimately dismissed earlier this year after she completed a counseling program intended to educate her on the harm of her actions.
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Nah...... there's no racism in America.
Or was this a Karen working the system?
Yes, some racism exists. And yes, Amy is working the system.
Do you even understand what you try to talk about anymore Greg?
Yep...in response to the left's ongoing implication of rampant, systemic racism occurring in the US.
I suggest you start pulling on your ears very hard until you hear a loud "POP"..... If you don't want to take my advise, try your doctor.
I have to put him back on ignore. He just got on my last nerve with that trash
What's "Systematic Socialism" got to do with it?
(Curious minds want to know!)
Hey did anyone hear the one about the gay guy who was on trial?
He tried the Judge!
Over-generalize much?
Good luck, Ms Cooper. I have a feeling that Franklin Templeton has more assets than you do
didn't see a picture, but she could have a large asset
I didn't either..but I read the book!
I'm wondering if the state needs to revisit her conviction/sentence as it looks like her counseling that kept her out of jail didn't take root...
Yeah... I do t think she will be able to keep the lawsuit going for very long.
She is the definition of irony and hypocrisy all at the same time.
Definitely a liberal.
Doubtful, but I wouldn't be surprised to find out she's related to some of our conservative members here on NT.
Taking a shot for absolutely no reason whatsoever? Definitely a conservative.
Prove it.
Easily triggered, offended and threatened by something that has no need for triggering, offending or threatening.
Hence
A liberal.
You just described Trump.
Awwwww
Still on your mind 24/7 after almost 6 months out of office
Cute
Trump is still the leader of the zombie GOP, so yep, we're still trying to find a way to get those that voted for him to put America first again.
Hmmmmm
Put America first?
Cut an American pipeline the first day in office and got about 11000 jobs cut, then refused to sanction a Russian pipeline, allowing for thousands of jobs.
Dismissed the Trump DOJ inquiry into the origin of COVID by a China lab, then after much public outcry, decided to "start" an inquiry, giving another 90 days of delay for an answer.
Even the NYT does not agree with America First agenda put into place by Trump. They are happy Biden is ending it.
Seems like he means "Everybody BUT America first" agenda
Of course she is. A rich white woman living in Manhattan working for an investment firm who gets mad when black people don't behave as she wants them to is about as stereotypical a liberal as you could hope for.
Imagine believing she's not liberal.
Amen to that!!
The Keystone XL pipeline is owned by a CANADIAN company. The jobs you speak of are SEASONAL and temporary.
Biden waived sanctions on a GERMAN company.
The pipeline has NOTHING to do with putting 'America first'.
Which is a YEAR faster than Trump's 'DOJ inquiry'.
Only to you and yours.
You mean the Canadian pipeline Keystone XL????
Okay, so?
The DOJ has jurisdiction in China?
Don't look at me I am fully behind a fully independent, bipartisan, investigation of COVID, including the Trump administration's response to it that allowed over 1/2 a million American deaths.
Trump talked the talk of " America First" at all his rallies, but he never walked the walk. He was a hypocrite through and through.
Putting ‘America First’ isn’t the problem. Trump’s version of it is.
Even without Keystone XL, Canada set to send record amount of oil to the U.S.
U.S.-Canada pipelines will have more than enough capacity to handle increasing volumes of crude out of Canada
Really, German? I missed that part. Thanks for the heads up....!!
Who cares who it was OWNED by or if they were seasonal. The fact is AMERICANS lost jobs due to Biden incompetence. Would you be OK if you were at first guaranteed a job for a certain amount of time, allowing you to budget for that time, then some dumbass comes in and says...nope..not anymore. If you say you wouldn't be pissed, then you are delusional.
"Biden waived sanctions on a GERMAN company."
So what? He guaranteed those from another country jobs when he took away American jobs.
"Which is a YEAR faster than Trump's 'DOJ inquiry'"
Again...he cancelled an inquiry already in progress, then when the pressure was too much, he decided to "start" an inquiry. Another screwup by Biden.
[deleted]
Not about the amount of flow..it's about the jobs.
But the left doesn't care about those.
That wasn't even a 180 degree turn, you hit a full 720 degrees on that spin.
You go ahead and believe what you want.
No matter how wrong you are.
You do since you said it was an AMERICAN pipeline.
Those only working seasonally.
It was competence.
There has been no sudden acceleration of production or a bunch more employees put on the job. The work on the Nord pipeline goes on as it did before Biden waived the sanctions.
When did this 'injury already in progress begin bugsy? In April of 2020, Trump said that he had evidence that the virus stated in a Chinese lab. If true, Trump had all the evidence he needed OVER a YEAR ago. Where's the report bugsy? Why didn't Trump release it? Inquiring minds want to know. Trump's DOJ had 9 months or 3 Xs the amount of time Biden gave for his mandate.
"When combined with additional 2021 contracts to be announced later, the total number of American union workers constructing Keystone XL in 2021 will exceed 8,000 and $900 million in gross wages," the release said. "In total, Keystone XL is expected to employ more than 11,000 Americans in 2021, creating more than $1.6 billion in gross wages."
That’s close to what the State Department found in its 2014 report.
In the report, the agency wrote that 10,400 estimated positions would be for seasonal construction work lasting four to eight-month periods. Since the State Department defines "job" as "one position that is filled for 1 year," that would equate to approximately 3,900 jobs over a two-year period.
In short: Most of the estimated jobs were temporary.
The State Department forecasted that no more than 50 jobs, some of which could be located in Canada, would be required to maintain the pipeline. Thirty-five of them would be permanent, while 15 would be temporary contractors.
U.S.-China trade war has cost up to 245,000 U.S. jobs: business group study
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war with China has caused a peak loss of 245,000 U.S. jobs, but a gradual scaling back of tariffs on both sides would boost growth and lead to an additional 145,000 jobs by 2025, a study commissioned by the U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC) shows.
WHERE is your outrage for THOSE jobs bugsy?
all construction jobs are temporary.
weak excuse.
Again I ask you, which you fail to answer.
You were hired as a temporary worker, and given a set of dates you would be working, and figured a budget for that time frame. Along comes someone who has no idea, but all the power to cancel your job, and budget for that time period, and does so with the stroke of a pen.
Would you not be pissed, and probably worried about your livelihood, no matter how temporary?
If you say no, then you have no idea what you are talking about, but I bet you would be singing a different tune if it was happening to you.
What happened to the accused Republican mantra of "screw you, I've got mine". Sounds more liberal to me.
BTFW...all construction jobs are temporary, with a maintenance crew to stay permanently, just like the Keystone was meant to be.
Nice deflection. Why don't start a thread about it?
Boo hoo....a misstatement
"It was competence."
So immediately cutting American jobs is competence? I would hate to see liberal incompetence.
"There has been no sudden acceleration of production or a bunch more employees put on the job. The work on the Nord pipeline goes on as it did before Biden waived the sanctions."
Thank you for acknowledging my point. To Biden and the left, American jobs bad, Russian and German jobs bad"
"Where's the report bugsy? Why didn't Trump release it? "
I don't know. Why don't you ask him....or Biden, now that reports several resources say that Biden cancelled the inquiry, and started it again after pressure from sane voices (ie, not coming from the left)
BTFW, Dulay, when Trump first brought up the theory that COVID began in a lab over a year ago, pretty much every loon leftist howled that Trump was a conspiracy theorist and was laughed at constantly about it. They knew he was right, but Truuuuuuuuuump!!!!!!!!!!!
Now that the truth is finally being recognized, the MSN and those same loon leftists are trying to spin it that it is Biden that has started the initial inquiry.
They have failed
It's not a deflection, it points out the hypocrisy of your comments.
Why? You didn't start a thread to whine about the 'American' pipeline jobs.
But YOU said that Biden guaranteed another country jobs. Then you contradict that with 'Russian and German jobs bad'
A sudden epiphany.
Trump didn't bring up a 'theory' bugsy. In April of 2020 Trump stated unequivocally that he had evidence that covid started in a lab. Yet 9 MONTHS later, Trump failed to document or release ONE iota of evidence.
Unsurprisingly, you're jumping to conclusions before all of the evidence is in.
BTFW, WHO stated that Biden started the initial inquiry? Link?
I apologize that reading comprehension is not your strong suit. You perfectly understood what I said. Biden guaranteed jobs to Germany and Russia. American left believe American jobs are bad, German and Russian jobs are good. Biden's track record shows it.
"Trump didn't bring up a 'theory' bugsy. In April of 2020 Trump stated unequivocally that he had evidence that covid started in a lab. Yet 9 MONTHS later, Trump failed to document or release ONE iota of evidence"
Because the Chinese had long ago decided to not participate , or allow, any kind of investigation in China concerning the origin of COVID. Hell, even Biden's admin is having trouble getting the Chinese to provide anything.
Besides, even if Trump showed unequivocal proof that the virus started in a Chinese lab, the left's propaganda arm, the media, would immediately label it as false. In fact, they did that when Trump simply mentioned it, but they damn sure are backtracking today.......probably because Trump is out of office.
"A sudden epiphany."
I'll overlook your insult, but I'm not surprised by it.
"Unsurprisingly, you're jumping to conclusions before all of the evidence is in.
BTFW, WHO stated that Biden started the initial inquiry? Link? "
Unsurprisingly, you forgot the Russian collusion hoax, where EVERY liberal in the country (wait for it) .............jumped to conclusions before the evidence was in......and were wrong when it was in.
Is Biden not in charge of his admin (my real guess is no).
For 4 years, we heard that EVERYTHING that the left made up to make Trump look bad, was, in the end, Trump's fault. It was his admin, so he was the end all for everything that happened during his tenure.
Does Biden get a pass for everything that happens in "his" administration?
So far, that answer is yes.
What's your point?
You comments are contradictory bugsy. I'll prove it below.
You can PRETEND that is what you said but I will QUOTE it:
THEN you said:
So WHICH is it bugsy? Did Biden act to guarantee another country jobs or does he think 'Russian and German jobs bad'? PICK ONE.
OK, I see where the mistype is.
Let me put it correctly for you.
Biden does not care for American oil jobs, killing approximately 11,000 with the stroke of a pen.
He does, however, prefer foreign oil jobs by allowing a German company to hire and keep thousand of German jobs.
Is that better?
Your 'mistype' along with your 'misstatement' include claiming that MY reading comprehension is not MY strong suit.
Oh and BTFW, I already debunked the bullshit about your 11,000 jobs claim.
Well gee...I'm sorry. Do you feel better?
As far as the other part of your post.....no you haven't
Have a good night if you wish to have the last post......hint.....you will
Disingenuous.
Been doing great for weeks.
Linked above:
That's less than 2000 jobs a year.
You seem to have an issue with members replying to your posts. Why?
Correct
"In the report, the agency wrote that 10,400 estimated positions would be for seasonal construction work lasting four to eight-month periods.
So just because the State Department classifies a job a certain way, you simply don't care that Americans lost jobs. In the middle of a pandemic, ONE job lost is too many.
I have found over the last decade or so is when a leftist accuses a conservative of something, there is an almost certainty that leftist is guilty of what they accuse the other person.
I this case, leftists have accused conservatives of saying to less fortunate "screw you, I got mine".
It seems like that is what we are seeing here with leftists and jobs lost. They don't care that someone loses a job, no matter how temporary, as long as they have their job, they don't care about those that have lost theirs.
I may behoove you to READ what my comment was in reply to bugsy. As is normal practice here, it is block quoted right above my reply.
Link?
I understand exactly what you posted. Again, it doesn't matter if one or 11,000 jobs are lost, especially at the stroke of a pen by someone who has no clue and has milked off the government tit his whole life.
The entirety of my post remains intact, and true.
Obviously not.
So you really ARE sorry bugsy.
Or as Yogi Berra would say:
She's ironic but she's hypocritical!
Lol, she isnt going to win this, it’s all on video.
Two things can be true at the same. A person can do a thing that is wrong, but then people can overreact to it, as well. These days, people want it to be all one way or the other and there is very little reflection about what is most appropriate or fair.
According to what has been reported, the reaction to Amy Cooper has been well beyond what Christian Cooper wanted - and he was the victim here.
I think it's likely this lady was fired as a public relations gesture and not because anyone who supervises her actually cared about what happened in the park.
Oh of course that is why she was fired, I’d have canned her ass too. Much easier to do that than deal with the PR fallout.
Oh REALLY?
Then WHY, after closely approaching Christian Cooper, did you find it necessary to state that you were going to call the police and tell them that an African American man was threatening YOU?
If you aren't a racist, WHY did you find it necessary to tell the police that the man that you claim was threatening you is African American? You repeated it TWICE. Then you screeched into your phone that you were being threatened by a man, implying eminent danger.
YOU approached HIM. People who feel threatened do NOT get CLOSER to whom they feel threatened by.
You are a racist. Own it.
Oh and BTFW, animal control should take your dog since you yanked it up and drug it around by it's collar instead of putting it on a leash.
She surrendered the dog.
GOOD!
I think one of the strangest parts of all this is that...many people think that that makes her a "liberal".
The dog that Cooper abused should definitely sue her.
That bitch is lucky that she was not brought up on animal abuse charges. I saw the video. The dog was a rescue and at least she surrendered it so that that precious pup can be placed with a proper owner.
She is not the first person fired for racist events and she won't be the last. Boo hoo hoo racist. You danced and now you have to pay the piper.