Tag: Central Park

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‘Central Park Karen’ Charged With Filing False Police Report

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The gay birdwatcher who was the target of hysterical threats by ‘Central Park Karen’ Amy Cooper says he won’t be participating in her prosecution since she’s “already paid a steep price.” Cooper became infamous in May when she encountered Christian Cooper (no relation) in a quiet part of Central Park. A Harvard graduate who works in communications, Mr. Cooper is on the board of the New York Audubon Society and an avid bird watcher. Just before 8 a.m. on May 25, Mr. Cooper’s birdwatching was interrupted by Ms. Cooper who was calling loudly after her unleashed dog. When he asked her to put the dog on a leash as park rules require, she refused. As the incident escalated, she called the police claiming “an African-American man is threatening my life.” In the aftermath of the encounter, she lost her dog and her job as well as being publicly shamed. Since the video was posted to Twitter, the clip has been viewed over 44 million times. https://twitter.com/sanosbo1/status/1280225043306463235 The New York Times reports the Manhattan district attorney’s office charged Ms. Cooper on Monday “with filing a false police report, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail.” But Mr. Cooper, who is openly gay, says he has not been involved in the investigation and doesn’t plan on taking part in her prosecution. “On the one hand, she’s already paid a steep price,” Mr. Cooper said in a statement to the Times. “That’s not enough of a deterrent to others? Bringing her more misery just seems like piling on.” “If the DA feels the need to pursue charges, he should pursue charges,” he added. “But he can do that without me.” Ms. Cooper’s attorney, Robert Barnes, predicts his client will be found not guilty for what he characterized as a “misunderstood 60-second video.” “She lost her job, her home, and her public life,” Mr. Barnes said in a statement to the Times. “Now some demand her freedom? How many lives are we going to destroy over misunderstood 60-second videos on social media?” Most cases of filing a false police report don’t end up with charges filed as the police generally want citizens to report crimes. Legal analysts say in this case, the racial component as well as the strong evidence makes for broader implications in regard to future instances of white people calling in false police reports against Black people.

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‘Karen’ Calls Police On Black Man Who Asked Her To Leash Her Dog

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A white woman in New York City called the police and accused a black man of threatening her and her dog after he asked her to put the dog’s leash on while in Central Park. From NBC News:

Christian Cooper captured part of the exchange in a now-viral video that was posted to Twitter by his sister. The woman, later identified as Amy Cooper, is shown on video asking Cooper to stop recording her, or she was going to call the cops and tell them “there’s an African American man threatening my life.” She repeated the statement several times, each time sounding more distressed, while appearing to call 911 dispatch.

Meanwhile, Christian didn’t appear to move any closer to Amy. He tells NBC New York that he’s an avid bird watcher who was in The Ramble, a popular spot in the park for birders, around 8 a.m. Monday morning. He says he only asked Amy to put her dog on the leash in the area where it’s required to have your dog on a leash at all times.

“If the habitat is destroyed we won’t be able to go there to see the birds, to enjoy the plantings,” Christian explained on Monday night. When Amy refused, he says he offered her dog a treat and started recording the incident.

As the video begins, Amy Cooper is yanking her dog by the collar and demanding Christian Cooper to stop recording. “Please don’t come close to me,” Christian Cooper says, as she approaches. “Sir, I’m asking you to stop recording me,” Amy Cooper says. He asks her again not to come close. That’s when Amy Cooper says she’s going to call the police. “I’m going to tell them there’s an African American man threatening my life,” she says. “Please tell them whatever you like,” Christian Cooper says. The video shows Amy Cooper on her phone. “There’s a man, African American, he has a bicycle helmet,” she says. “He is recording me and threatening me and my dog.” While she’s on the phone, her dog appears to be straining and trying to get free while she tries to restrain it. “I’m being threatened by a man in the Ramble,” she continues even though it’s apparent the man isn’t threatening her. “Please send the cops immediately!” At this writing the video has been viewed over 30 million times.

Amy Cooper spoke to CNN and says that since the video was posted, her “entire life is being destroyed right now.” She told NBC New York on Monday that she admits she overreacted but she claimed that Christian was screaming, and that she felt threatened because she didn’t know what was in the dog treats. “I sincerely and humbly apologize to everyone, especially to that man, his family,” she said in a phone call. “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.” “When I think about the police, I’m such a blessed person. I’ve come to realize especially today that I think of [the police] as a protection agency, and unfortunately, this has caused me to realize that there are so many people in this country that don’t have that luxury,” she continued. Her employer, investment company Franklin Templeton, placed her on administrative leave Monday night and CNN reports she was fired as of Tuesday afternoon. According to a Facebook post from Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue Inc., the dog in the video has been surrendered to the shelter. “The dog is now in our rescue’s care and he is safe and in good health,” the post said. Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted his disgust over the overt racism displayed in the video saying, “This kind of hatred has no place in our city.”