Tonight my racism chase takes me to Rhode Island.
"A black Rhode Island man was pulled over because of the air freshener hanging from his rearview mirror.
As soon as he was pulled over, Dana Harris Jr. began recording, and the video has since been posted to YouTube.
“What’s the problem, big dude? What’s the problem?” Harris asks the officer, Brian Murphy, when he arrives.
“You seen me come out of my driveway. What did I do wrong?” Harris asks, adding, “I have a cousin who’s a Providence police officer for 23 years. What’s the problem? … I’m tired of this. I’m not a gangster. I’m not a thug.”
Murphy ignores Harris’ questions and asks for his insurance information. After Murphy looks over the paperwork, he hands it back to Murphy and says, “You can’t have this obstructing your view,” as he points at the air freshener.
“Come on, are you serious?” Harris replies.
“Air fresheners? … That’s the reason you pulled me over?” Harris asks.
“Yup,” the officer says, not giving a ticket and the returning to his cruiser.
“You’re bored, I can tell you’re bored,” Harris says to Murphy as the officer is walking away. “Have a good day, man.'”
Come on Field, you are making a mountain out of a mole- hill. He didn't even ticket the man, what's the big deal?
This one incident might not be a big deal, but it's like Chinese water torture.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Field, the police have an explanation, it was all a big misunderstanding.
"The video has since gone viral, and police authorities have since explained that Murphy was watching the house for Harris’ 18-year-old brother, Justice McLaren. Murphy had pulled Harris over to look for his brother and was unsure if he could tell Harris about the warrant, so he pointed out the air freshener instead." [Source]
I would tend to believe that this incident was just a big misunderstanding, but there are too many other folks in law enforcement like Officer Murphy. Take this next guy all the way across the country in Oregon, for example.
"A police chief in Oregon retired this week after officers say he responded to an accusation of racism by imitating a monkey, singing “Dixie” and pantomiming a beating, KOIN reports.
In papers obtained by the station, officers allege that Clatskanie Police Chief Marvin Hoover made the racist display when they attempted to debrief him on the arrest of black woman who threatened to file a discrimination lawsuit.
“I relayed several of the arrestee’s remarks such as, ‘When you look at me, my black and my nappy hair, all you see is animal,’” writes Officer Dustin Stone in his official report to the Oregon Department of Public Safety. “Chief Hoover interrupted me and said, ‘That’s what she is.’” [Source]
Oh come on Field, are you going to indict everyone in law enforcement because of one bad apple?
Ok, how about two bad apples.
KPLC reported that the Lake Arthur town council unanimously voted to terminate Raymond Mott earlier this week after the photo started circulating on Facebook.
“The picture speaks for itself,” Mott said. “I’m standing at a rally against illegal immigration. There’s not much to be said about the picture. I’ve never denied it was me.”
The photo was apparently taken at a Klan rally at an undisclosed location in North Carolina last summer. It was said to have been an anti-immigration rally.
The former Lake Arthur officer said the town council did not follow proper protocol in firing him and that his termination was illegal. He said he plans to take legal action against the town." [Source]
Oh Field....
I know I know, a mountain out of a mole-hill. It's just one cop, and just because he attends klan rallies that doesn't mean that he is a member.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
*Pic from nytimes.com
