Source: YouTube screenshot / youtube screenshot
A black New York state senator who says a woman called 911 on him for campaigning has introduced a bill to punish people for making racially motivated police reports.
Earlier this month, state Sen. Jesse Hamilton was campaigning in Brooklyn, when a woman who Hamilton said didn’t agree with his criticism of Donald Trump called 911 when Hamilton refused to leave the public street corner. “I said ‘I’m not leaving.’ She said, ‘I’m going to call the police,’” Hamilton said.
Hamilton, who says his civil rights were violated, hopes to pass legislation making these types of reports a crime in New York.
“You can’t call the police on someone who isn’t doing anything wrong,” he said.
Over the past few months, numerous people of color have been victims of 911 calls while going about their everyday lives.
The proposed bill would require the local DA to investigate these incidents as hate crimes. If a report is determined to be racially motivated, the DA would then recommend one of a number of consequences, including fines, sensitivity training or jail time.
Click here to read more
