A bystander live tweeted as a person was swarmed by police and handcuffed in New York City.
People are actually rioting. There are 40 people here screaming at the cops to let him go. Held him on the ground for the last 15.
— Jasmine (@jasminemoy) February 20, 2014
People videoing the whole thing. "This is what being black in NYC gets you!" Some scream. Having a hard time disagreeing. Fuck.
— Jasmine (@jasminemoy) February 20, 2014
They said they cuffed him because he ran, so I guess they thought he was displaying guilt. I say: he ran because he was black.
— Jasmine (@jasminemoy) February 20, 2014
I will say, the rioters were tremendously diverse, from an age/race perspective. Police brutality! The thing that unites us.
— Jasmine (@jasminemoy) February 20, 2014
And then she clarified the “rioting” portion.
To be clear: no actual rioting. Just a large group of angry, disappointed people trying to get six cops off this poor kid.
— Jasmine (@jasminemoy) February 20, 2014
And, fwiw, photos of the first three cops on scene: pic.twitter.com/0KECkbMABl
— Jasmine (@jasminemoy) February 20, 2014
@jasminemoy I was there too, followed them out an tried to give him my contact info, cops wouldn't let me so I yelled it
— Mikki Halpin (@mikkipedia) February 20, 2014
Here’s her explanation.
@LegendaryAsshol The guy let someone else use her metrocard to get him into the subway station.
— Jasmine (@jasminemoy) February 20, 2014