Police carding
Storyboard Text
- Good morning Jim!
- Morning Theresa!
- Hey you over there! Stop what you're doing!
- Who, me?
- Yeah you! Stop right there and put your hands above your head!
- Jim is a regular, middle-class citizen on his way to work in the morning. He follows the same routine and walks down the same street everyday.
- We have reports of a convenience store down the block being robbed.
- One morning, Jim's routine is unexpectedly disrupted by a boisterous police officer walking the beat.
- We have reports of a convenience store down the street being robbed.
- Save it! You're under arrest!
- Jim is confused by the officer's actions. To his knowledge he hasn't committed any crimes and sees no reason for his stoppage.
- You in the beanie! Stop right there!
- That's him! That's the thief!
- Jim doesn't know anything about the crime. The officer has bypassed all of the other people on the street. Jim realizes he is the only person of colour on the street and that he is now being "carded" due to his skin tone.
- What's the problem officer?
- Is there anything you'd like to say about that?
- Jim is facing racial discrimination. The officer has no reason to suspect Jim of the crime and is placing him under arrest illegally. The officer is promoting the stereotype that people of colour are more likely to be the perpetrators of crime.
- What's the problem officer?
- This is a mistake officer, I know nothing about the robbery! I was just on my way to work.
- Is there anything you'd like to say about that?
- Racial carding by police officers is unfortunately all too common. It exists as evidence of long-standing institutionalized racism within our country and a roadblock to equality that we must work on surpassing.
- My bad sir, you're free to go.
- Stop him officer!
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