Cooper, Floyd Incidents Highlight The Dangers Facing Black Americans

Everyday incidents can turn deadly in a second for black citizens

Protest at the site of George Floyd’s death. (Lorie Shaull/Flickr)

Yesterday, two incidents occurred that indicated the dangers facing black people living in America. Amy Cooper, the latest out of control Karen, threatened the life of black bird watcher Christian Cooper, after they had a verbal altercation in Central Park over her unleashed dog. Amy Cooper turned this situation dangerous when she called the police and claimed she was being threatened by a black man.

She wasn’t. Christian Cooper was talking to her from a distance and also captured it on camera. He later said her actions put him in a situation where he could have faced “death by cop.”

“I videotaped it because I thought it was important to document things,” said Christian Cooper in a CNN interview. “Unfortunately we live in an era with things like Ahmaud Arbery, where black men are seen as targets. This woman thought she could exploit that to her advantage, and I wasn’t having it.”