Two San Francisco lawmakers have a proposed a bill which would make it a hate crime to call 911 to file a false report against a person of color.
Shamann Walton and Matt Haney, who both serve on the city’s Board of Supervisors, announced their plans to push through the legislation on Tuesday.
The pair have called their proposal the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergences Act, or the CAREN Act.
The acronym is a play on the name Karen – which has recently become used as a slang term for a white woman who is perceived to be entitled, demanding or racist.
While filing a false police report is already a crime, the CAREN Act would add a ‘hate crime’ extension to the offence, according to The Daily Beast.
The CAREN Act would also make it illegal for people to contact law enforcement solely to discriminate on the basis of a person’s religious affiliation, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity’, according to a press release.
Matt Haney (left) and Shamann Walton (right) have co-authored the CAREN Act – a bill which make it a hate crime to call 911 to make a false report against a person of color
Announcing the proposal on Twitter, Walton wrote: ‘Racist 911 calls are unacceptable that’s why I’m introducing the CAREN Act at today’s SF Board of Supervisors meeting. This is the CAREN we need.’
Walsh, who represents San Francisco’s 6th District, also took to Twitter to declare that he had co-authored the bill.
‘The CAREN Act makes it unlawful to fabricate false racially biased emergency reports. Racist false reports put people in danger and waste resources.,” he wrote.
In the past two months there have been a number of high-profile incidents involving so-called ‘Karens’ calling the cops on people of color and accuse them of bogus offences.
Back in May, New York investment banker Amy Cooper was branded ‘Central Park Karen’ after she was caught on cell phone video calling 911 and falsely claiming that she was being threatened by Christian Cooper (no relation)
Back in May, New York investment banker Amy Cooper was branded ‘Central Park Karen’ after she was caught on cell phone video calling 911 and falsely claiming that she was being threatened by black bird-watcher Christian Cooper (no relation).
Mr Cooper had simply asked Ms Cooper to put her dog on a leash.
While on the phone to the 911 operator, Cooper was seen adopting a hysterical tone, demanding that officers respond immediately.
‘I’m in the Ramble, there is a man, African-American, he has a bicycle helmet and he is recording me and threatening me and my dog,’ she stated.
‘I am being threatened by a man in the Ramble, please send the cops immediately!’
Ms Cooper was charged with falsely reporting an incident in the third degree on Monday.
If the CAREN Act becomes law in San Francisco, any similar incidents that occurs in the city could lead to the filing of a hate crime charge against the individual who dials 911.
Christian Cooper, a keen birdwatcher, was verbally attacked by Amy Cooper after he asked her to control her dog
However, it is unclear whether the law would extend to people who call to report trivial issues or minor disputes with persons of color to police.
Last month in San Francisco, white businesswoman Lisa Alexander dialed 911 on Fillipino man James Juanillo after she stopped to question him while he was chalking ‘Black Lives Matter’ onto a fence outside his home.
Juanillo claims that after Alexander called police about his alleged illegal activity, cops came by in a squad car, but never even got out
Alexander was quickly dubbed ‘San Francisco Karen’ – but its unclear whether she would be charged with a hate crime under the CAREN Act as she did not report a false incident, but rather a trivial one.
The board of supervisors has not yet voted on whether to pass the Act,
Last month in San Francisco, white businesswoman Lisa Alexander dialed 911 on Fillipino man James Juanillo after she stopped to question him while he was chalking ‘Black Lives Matter’ onto a fence outside his home