White Cops Arrest Black Politician For Distributing Voting Rights Info
Ty Turner, a gay, black activist and former state senate candidate, was arrested in Charlotte, NC for placing leaflets about voting rights on cars in a parking lot.
The incident happened on Labor Day near a “Moral Mondays” rally in the park, which local activists have participated in for months to protest Republican lawmakers.
In a video…shot by activist Casey Throneburg, Turner, who is black, is confronted by two white Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers who approach him on bikes and tell him to put his cell phone away.
Turner asked the police officers to name the ordinance that he was violating, but on the video the police officers do not say. Instead, the police tell him to put down his cell phone.
Turner repeatedly states that he has the right to film the police with his cell phone, but they soon take him into custody.
One officer states, “You are under arrest,” while the second adds, “Stop resisting.”
However, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police spokesperson Jessica Wallin told Goqnotes.com that Turner was detained, not arrested.
After Turner was released, he told ThinkProgress.org, “They said they would charge me for distributing literature. I asked [the policeman] for the ordinance number [being violated], because they can’t put handcuffs on you if they cannot tell you why they’re detaining you. I said, ‘Show me where it’s illegal to do this.’ But he would not do it. The officer got mad and grabbed me. Then he told me that I was resisting arrest!”
Linda1961 September 2nd, 2014 at 6:42 pm
It’s come to this – my first thought upon seeing the video and reading the post was “Thank God he’s still alive!”
jasperjava September 2nd, 2014 at 7:09 pm
Being Black is a criminal offence in parts of the South. Jaywalking while Black can get you shot. Sitting while Black can get you roughed up. Distributing literature while Black can get you arrested.
The cops seem to have that ole Jim Crow nostalgia.
Budda September 2nd, 2014 at 7:26 pm
Sue the cops/town. Not a matter of winning as much as shining a light on poor unprofessional conduct
juicyfruityyy September 2nd, 2014 at 9:50 pm
It’s the cops, mot the black males, that are looking thuggish. As with history. They are trying to make the blacks look like the enemy. Times are not the same. We have the internet, twitter, instagram, bloggers, and more vigilant citizens. They are being exposed for who they really are.
RioBravoHombre September 2nd, 2014 at 10:24 pm
The phrase,”Law and order” has always been misunderstood by liberals, who fail to realize it’s full, dog whistle implications to racists. Republican racists blather about law and order, because they need to make clear to their ignorant racist base that the “law” will be used to enforce the racist “order.” Using police to keep black folks in their place is a critical part of the republican racist strategy to continue white power and privilege.
AnthonyLook September 3rd, 2014 at 12:58 am
Police departments have to weed out all the tea party birther racist police officers; they are the bad apples that are intimidating American citizens nationwide.
mynameisjohn September 3rd, 2014 at 3:05 am
Arrested (or “detained”, whatever) for distributing literature? I wanna see some Jehovah’s Witnesses on the chain gang dammit!!!
New Old Gnu September 3rd, 2014 at 11:09 am
“STOP RESISTING ….. STOP RESISTING” ! ! …. You are expected to Instantly and Calmly acquiesce to being Unnecessarily and Unjustly “Detained” …….. OR ELSE !!!