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Right now, as Eric Garner’s killer faces a disciplinary hearing for strangling a man for allegedly selling loose cigarettes, NY lawmakers are ready to pass another law that we know will be disparately enforced & risk dangerous police escalation. Just stop. citylab.com/life/2019/05/t…
Literally every single thing either criminalized or otherwise prohibited in NY is enforced disproportionately against people of color living only in certain neighborhoods. Jaywalking. Riding a bike on a sidewalk. Broken taillight or failure to signal. Marijuana & drug possession.
Once police stop someone for something, no matter how insignificant, theres a likelihood of escalation, at the very least in the form of further bodily intrusion or car searches for contraband that usually doesn’t exist.
We have no idea whether or not people will be deterred from texting while walking bc of this law (tho evidence suggests no).
But we *know* for sure that Black & Latino people will by & large be the only ones stopped.
That’s just how “policing” works in America.
But we *know* for sure that Black & Latino people will by & large be the only ones stopped.
That’s just how “policing” works in America.
