Numerous Drivers Pull Over To Check On A Black Woman Who Was Stopped By Cops And Was Screaming For Help
A video has just gone viral on TikTok, showing people pulling over to make sure that a black woman who was stopped by Missouri police was treated fairly.
The media is calling the recording “a document of increased awareness and agency” in police interactions, as citizens come together in “a touching and essential” example of communal accountability for each other.
Posted by @sheniweird 4 days ago, the caption reads: “We have to start policing the police until things start making sense. In today’s world, it’s still unfair so here go!”
The video begins with the videographer backing up her car to get a better view of the developing situation.
Multiple police units pulled over a dark sedan on a highway in Missouri
@sheniweirdWe have to start policing the police until things start making sense. In today’s world, it’s still unfair so here go! #police#news#justice#streets#usa♬ original sound – SheniWeird
It is a person’s constitutional right to videotape or photograph things that are plainly visible in public spaces. That includes capturing the work of police officers.
“When I see a young African American woman screaming for help,” the TikToker explained in captions and voiceovers, “And it’s 3 to 4 White Police with guns drawn on her, and she’s unarmed, you damn right I’m showing up and showing out until I find out what it’s all about.”
“We need answers every time. She deserves the same respect homegrown terrorists got. You’re not just gone shoot her over a traffic violation. Not today.”
Eventually, multiple drivers noticed what was happening and they let the police know there were eyes (and lenses) watching.
“When I pulled over, everyone pulled over,” the TikToker said.
As she walked up, a white man in a Subaru (who had also been recording) gave her a thumbs up, indicating that everything is under control.
So a string of cars stopped near the scene, making sure the officers dealt with the woman appropriately
Image credits: sheniweird
Image credits: sheniweird
Image credits: sheniweird
Image credits: sheniweird
Image credits: sheniweird
Image credits: sheniweird
Image credits: sheniweird
Image credits: sheniweird
Image credits: sheniweird
Image credits: sheniweird
Image credits: sheniweird
Image credits: sheniweird
Image credits: sheniweird
Image credits: sheniweird
Police activity has been in the spotlight in the US for quite some time now, as the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement continues to protest against police brutality and racially charged violence against black people in general.
Missouri is one of the states that saw its fair share of unrest. On August 10, 2014, the day after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson, the town of Ferguson erupted in riots and looting.
Most of the people in the comments applauded the efforts of the passers-by who may have helped keep the woman unharmed.
So far, it’s still unclear which police department was involved.
Here’s what people said after watching the video
If police are doing nothing wrong, then they should welcome this level of visibility and accountability to help reestablish public trust. I believe that the only time people don't welcome transparency is when they have something they prefer to keep hidden.
I got a friend that's a cop and he doesn't mind this kind of thing at all. He does get mad when people get too close or try to block him doing his job, but like you said he view the filming as a way for the world to see hey I'm doing my job and I'm doing it the right way
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Undoubtedly, this video does not give the full context, i.e. we do not know what happened before the women was pulled over. However, seeing one car with one women yet multiple police cars gives you the impression that something is strange. But for me, as a European, the strangest thing is to read "unarmed". There should not be a rationale to assume that anyone who is pulled over in a civilised country would be armed, let alone that anone who is pulled over would likely engage in a gunfight. If there is a rationale to assume that, you know what you need to change. (Before anyone screams "you cannot take away our guns if you let them keep theirs": it is not about taking away firearms, it is about the role firearms play in society.)
The cops in the US are so paranoid that anyone they stop could be armed, because anyone indeed COULD BE. Which in turn leads to them being needlessly aggressive and dangerous towards normal, harmless citizens. It's just a viscious cycle.
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1. How do you know she’s unarmed right off the bat? 2. Do you know what led up to the stop that resulted in weapons being drawn? For example, if she evaded, use of force continuum dictates that weapons be drawn, as this is now a” felony stop “.
1) If she was armed & screaming for help, she likely would have been killed for being highly emotional while handling a weapon because, even if she was afraid, her volume & the fact she had a weapon would have come across as threatening. I can say with a high level of certainty that if she was actually armed, she would have been killed. 2) What do you think an unarmed, frightened woman did to provoke 4-5 policemen to draw their weapons on her? It doesn't matter what she did, because nobody deserves to die that way. The people watching were making sure she would not lose her life that day, & that if she did there would be a clear record of what happened to determine whether there was police brutality or not. Again, it doesn't matter what she did, because in America everyone is innocent until proven guilty in a fair trial, which means a death penalty on the side of the road is grossly inappropriate & unfair whether she ran a red light or robbed a store.
Load More Replies...
If police are doing nothing wrong, then they should welcome this level of visibility and accountability to help reestablish public trust. I believe that the only time people don't welcome transparency is when they have something they prefer to keep hidden.
I got a friend that's a cop and he doesn't mind this kind of thing at all. He does get mad when people get too close or try to block him doing his job, but like you said he view the filming as a way for the world to see hey I'm doing my job and I'm doing it the right way
Load More Replies... Undoubtedly, this video does not give the full context, i.e. we do not know what happened before the women was pulled over. However, seeing one car with one women yet multiple police cars gives you the impression that something is strange. But for me, as a European, the strangest thing is to read "unarmed". There should not be a rationale to assume that anyone who is pulled over in a civilised country would be armed, let alone that anone who is pulled over would likely engage in a gunfight. If there is a rationale to assume that, you know what you need to change. (Before anyone screams "you cannot take away our guns if you let them keep theirs": it is not about taking away firearms, it is about the role firearms play in society.)
The cops in the US are so paranoid that anyone they stop could be armed, because anyone indeed COULD BE. Which in turn leads to them being needlessly aggressive and dangerous towards normal, harmless citizens. It's just a viscious cycle.
Load More Replies... 1. How do you know she’s unarmed right off the bat? 2. Do you know what led up to the stop that resulted in weapons being drawn? For example, if she evaded, use of force continuum dictates that weapons be drawn, as this is now a” felony stop “.
1) If she was armed & screaming for help, she likely would have been killed for being highly emotional while handling a weapon because, even if she was afraid, her volume & the fact she had a weapon would have come across as threatening. I can say with a high level of certainty that if she was actually armed, she would have been killed. 2) What do you think an unarmed, frightened woman did to provoke 4-5 policemen to draw their weapons on her? It doesn't matter what she did, because nobody deserves to die that way. The people watching were making sure she would not lose her life that day, & that if she did there would be a clear record of what happened to determine whether there was police brutality or not. Again, it doesn't matter what she did, because in America everyone is innocent until proven guilty in a fair trial, which means a death penalty on the side of the road is grossly inappropriate & unfair whether she ran a red light or robbed a store.
Load More Replies...
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