Texas cops stopping a black professor is a racial ‘Rorschach

[elleblue]

People are signing a petition calling for her to be fired? Get outta here with that ish!

[froggy76]

That woman is going to get hit by a car someday. Walking on the right side of the road and near the middle of the road with NO CLUE that there is a car behind her. Just watching her do that stressed me out. The cops were extremely nice to her, but the request for ID makes no sense to me. If the police can demonstrate that it's their policy to ID anyone they stop, I'm team cops. Otherwise, I can see where there is racial profiling going on here.

[downtoearth]

Nov 4, 2015 12:23:28 GMT -5 froggy76 said:

That woman is going to get hit by a car someday. Walking on the right side of the road and near the middle of the road with NO CLUE that there is a car behind her. Just watching her do that stressed me out. The cops were extremely nice to her, but the request for ID makes no sense to me. If the police can demonstrate that it's their policy to ID anyone they stop, I'm team cops. Otherwise, I can see where there is racial profiling going on here.

Nope. I work out in the streets in our quiet neighborhood - maybe I don' flap my arms when I exercise, but she wasn't in any danger. I think that stop was really odd - and NOPE - I would not think it's ok to ID someone during a safety stop if that is why they were doing it. Driving by and saying out the window, "Hey, be careful exercising in the streets." is enough if that was their concern.

ETA: I just realized that I have never carried or thought to carry an ID while running outside/going on a bike ride unless I plan to end it at the brewery. There's another realization that you can't leave home without an ID if you're black, huh?

[decemberwedding07]

I've seen a police officer ask someone (white) to walk on the other side of the street for his safety in our neighborhood. It was just a really quick thing where the police officer pulled up next to him (there was no traffic, as there was none in the video) and said, "You need to walk on the opposite side of the road, so that you can see approaching traffic." Then it was, "Ok, have a nice day!" There was no ID checking, no getting out of the car. THAT'S what made that video odd to me. We have an arm flapper in our neighborhood and I always think, "At what age will I just go, 'You know what? IDGAF, I'm flapping my arms for added cardio.'" We also have a lady who carries weights and does slow arm movements while she walks fast. It looks like it requires way more coordination than I have.

[froggy76]

Nov 4, 2015 12:43:18 GMT -5 decemberwedding07 said:

I've seen a police officer ask someone (white) to walk on the other side of the street for his safety in our neighborhood. It was just a really quick thing where the police officer pulled up next to him (there was no traffic, as there was none in the video) and said, "You need to walk on the opposite side of the road, so that you can see approaching traffic." Then it was, "Ok, have a nice day!" There was no ID checking, no getting out of the car. THAT'S what made that video odd to me. We have an arm flapper in our neighborhood and I always think, "At what age will I just go, 'You know what? IDGAF, I'm flapping my arms for added cardio.'" We also have a lady who carries weights and does slow arm movements while she walks fast. It looks like it requires way more coordination than I have.

Yes- this is the appropriate police response to what she was doing. I can't agree she was perfectly safe, so I have no problem with the police telling her to move to other side of the street. But two cops getting out of the car and checking ID is unnecessary.

[downtoearth]

Nov 4, 2015 13:04:44 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

Nov 4, 2015 12:36:06 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

Nope. I work out in the streets in our quiet neighborhood - maybe I don' flap my arms when I exercise, but she wasn't in any danger. I think that stop was really odd - and NOPE - I would not think it's ok to ID someone during a safety stop if that is why they were doing it. Driving by and saying out the window, "Hey, be careful exercising in the streets." is enough if that was their concern.

ETA: I just realized that I have never carried or thought to carry an ID while running outside/going on a bike ride unless I plan to end it at the brewery. There's another realization that you can't leave home without an ID if you're black, huh?

I am black and run without my ID all the damn time. But if I were contacted or stopped by police I would just tell them that and give them my information verbally. They run people's info that way all the time.

That is good to know, thanks.  I just never thought to carry mine.  But is it common to ask ID for a safety concern? 

ETA: I just read your direct response.

[pixy0stix]

I think what the police did was a non-issue. I think her blowing it up was strange. I don't think she should lose her job.

[downtoearth]

I think what pennypenny and mockingbird said make sense and I realize I don't really understand police protocol.

I'm more pissed that someone called the cops on an exercising woman to begin with. They didn't need to be involved AT ALL. The person in the truck could have slowed down, honked if she was wearing headphones and didn't see/hear them, and then rolled down a window and said, "Hey, didn't want to surprise you, but just wanted to let you know that I was here. Be careful of other cars who might not see you in the street. Have a good day."

People are stupid to call the police on ish like this!

[LadySusan]

It would take time and money, but would it be possible for the police department to use dashcam data to show that they ID all people this way regardless of race?

[marriedfilingjoint]

I cannot stand when people run in the road even though they have a sidewalk.

[IIOY]

Nov 4, 2015 14:49:03 GMT -5 1234FIF! said:

Nov 4, 2015 14:13:38 GMT -5 marriedfilingjoint said:

I cannot stand when people run in the road even though they have a sidewalk.

Or walk in it. WHY are you walking in the street and not on the sidewalk?!! 

This happens in my neighborhood all the time, and I've nearly hit walkers when I turn the corner and they are just there, in the middle of the road. I don't understand this at all.

[tacosforlife]

Nov 4, 2015 14:49:03 GMT -5 1234FIF! said:

Nov 4, 2015 14:13:38 GMT -5 marriedfilingjoint said:

I cannot stand when people run in the road even though they have a sidewalk.

Or walk in it. WHY are you walking in the street and not on the sidewalk?!! 

People did this ALL THE GODDAMN TIME in Capitol Hill. I guess because a lot of the sidewalks are brick? Well, if you don't like running on brick sidewalks, maybe you should have chosen a neighborhood without brick sidewalks. Or take your ass to the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. Or hit up a gym. Find a high school track. But GET OUT OF THE MOTHERFUCKING STREET, YOU ASSHOLE.

Sorry. My rage boner has been activated.

[tacosforlife]

Nov 4, 2015 15:02:08 GMT -5 @mx said:

I thought people are supposed to run with traffic and not against it?

When I'm biking there is nothing I hate more than a runner coming at me in the bike lane, it's hilly here and I don't always see the, with enough time to make a safe decision in heavy traffic. I don't want runners in the bike lane period, but if they're going to be there I prefer them going the same direction and of course with no headphones.

No. You are supposed to walk against traffic and bike with it. It has to do with your ability to see and react.

The real problem that you are describing is that runners do not belong in the bike lane. Period. Ever. Those people are being total assholes. Full stop.

[pixy0stix]

I run in the street because for some reason concrete tears up my hips when I run on it. Most of the trails around here are concrete.

[iammalcolmx]

Nov 4, 2015 13:11:12 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

I think what the police did was a non-issue. I think her blowing it up was strange. I don't think she should lose her job.

[elleblue]

I can absolutely see and understand why she felt the officers were being racist in the way they handled this situation. However, knowing that there was training going on, making things more likely to be done "by the book" vs at an officer's discretion, I don't believe their motivations were racist.

[Elsa]

So NOW y'all want to talk about it since its no longer ae day? lol

Anyways, again, this is local to me. From what I have heard the reason that people are calling for her dismissal is because she is the Dean of the School of Journalism at UNT, and many people believe that she outright lied in her oped about how the situation went down. They are saying that this sets a bad example for the journalism students- that embellishing/lying can get you attention and is acceptable.


I do not agree that she should fired. I'm just sharing what some are saying.

[NitaX]

Nov 4, 2015 13:10:21 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

Nov 4, 2015 13:04:44 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

I am black and run without my ID all the damn time. But if I were contacted or stopped by police I would just tell them that and give them my information verbally. They run people's info that way all the time.

That is good to know, thanks.  I just never thought to carry mine.  But is it common to ask ID for a safety concern? 

ETA: I just read your direct response.

I run, but I always carry ID. There have been too many cases of runners being attacked or hit by cars and the medics/police can't identify the person. I would never want my family to be stressed out trying to figure out where I was in case something bad happened to me. 

And I will say that it is a safety thing to walk/run facing on-coming traffic. It's easier to recognize movement coming toward you. I'm also a person who wears super bright clothing when I run in the dark. I need for traffic to SEE me. I nearly hit someone in my neighborhood once. He was wearing dark clothing, but he was facing on-coming traffic, so the movement caught my eye and I swerved. 

[tacosforlife]

Nov 4, 2015 15:47:23 GMT -5 @mx said:

Nov 4, 2015 15:07:25 GMT -5 tacosforlife said:

No. You are supposed to walk against traffic and bike with it. It has to do with your ability to see and react.

The real problem that you are describing is that runners do not belong in the bike lane. Period. Ever. Those people are being total assholes. Full stop.

Definitely assholes, I run into them (er bike into them?) nearly every day. I appreciate that sidewalks suck for running because they're crowded and really uneven. That's one of the reasons I rarely run anymore. 

I dont really mind people running in the road on quiet neighborhood streets for that reason, but there aren't very many of those around either. I suspect in suburban TX things might be different. 

Probably. OTOH, in my parents' suburban Dallas neighborhood, cars giant SUVs are parked on both sides of the street, so if someone is walking in the road, it really may be difficult to go around him. And that brings us back to the whole reason you are supposed to walk against traffic if you do have to walk in the road - so that you can see oncoming cars and move if necessary.

If this neighborhood is anything like my parents' neighborhood, I'd have zero interest in walking or running in the street. People drive their cars giant SUVs way too damned fast down the road. I'd rather be safely up on the sidewalk!

[NitaX]

tacosforlife - I prefer to run on the sidewalk. That way some driver won't hit my behind!

[tacosforlife]

Nov 4, 2015 15:48:37 GMT -5 NitaX said:

Nov 4, 2015 13:10:21 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

That is good to know, thanks.  I just never thought to carry mine.  But is it common to ask ID for a safety concern? 

ETA: I just read your direct response.

I run, but I always carry ID. There have been too many cases of runners being attacked or hit by cars and the medics/police can't identify the person. I would never want my family to be stressed out trying to figure out where I was in case something bad happened to me. 

And I will say that it is a safety thing to walk/run facing on-coming traffic. It's easier to recognize movement coming toward you. I'm also a person who wears super bright clothing when I run in the dark. I need for traffic to SEE me. I nearly hit someone in my neighborhood once. He was wearing dark clothing, but he was facing on-coming traffic, so the movement caught my eye and I swerved. 

YES! I have two really bright workout shirts. I should get a couple more now that I'm going out after work in the dark.

I actually did hit a bicyclist once - wearing all dark clothing on a black bike with no lights in the dark and the rain and riding against traffic. I turned left, but she was approaching from behind me, and I literally did not see her until she was on my windshield. Fucking terrifying for both of us. BRIGHT COLORS! REFLECTIVE GEAR! FOLLOW THE LAW! Now you see why I'm such an asshole about this stuff!

[NitaX]

Nov 4, 2015 15:56:05 GMT -5 tacosforlife said:

Nov 4, 2015 15:48:37 GMT -5 NitaX said:

I run, but I always carry ID. There have been too many cases of runners being attacked or hit by cars and the medics/police can't identify the person. I would never want my family to be stressed out trying to figure out where I was in case something bad happened to me. 

And I will say that it is a safety thing to walk/run facing on-coming traffic. It's easier to recognize movement coming toward you. I'm also a person who wears super bright clothing when I run in the dark. I need for traffic to SEE me. I nearly hit someone in my neighborhood once. He was wearing dark clothing, but he was facing on-coming traffic, so the movement caught my eye and I swerved. 

YES! I have two really bright workout shirts. I should get a couple more now that I'm going out after work in the dark.

I actually did hit a bicyclist once - wearing all dark clothing on a black bike with no lights in the dark and the rain and riding against traffic. I turned left, but she was approaching from behind me, and I literally did not see her until she was on my windshield. Fucking terrifying for both of us. BRIGHT COLORS! REFLECTIVE GEAR! FOLLOW THE LAW! Now you see why I'm such an asshole about this stuff!

Yup. Folks joke about it and my answer is - "But you can see me. That's all that matters."