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CAREN Act To Stop Racially Motivated Police Calls Proposed By California Lawmaker

(241 Posts)
GagaJo Fri 10-Jul-20 00:56:56

www.ladbible.com/news/weird-caren-act-to-stop-racially-motivated-911-calls-proposed-20200709?fbclid=IwAR0skM_QqKY5tjb45I0e6rhJ-v5qhGOFDzXwADi0FLtbS6l6lpUoFbRdJMQ

A new law proposed by a lawmaker in California is aimed at stopping people from making racially motivated calls to the police.

It's been proposed by San Francisco Supervisor Shamann Walton, and is called the 'CAREN' act, which stands for Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies.

Recently there has been a large uptick in incidents during which white women call the police to make reports against people of colour who they claim have made them feel uncomfortable while they're going about their daily business.

These people have become known colloquially as 'Karens'.

Calls to police can put the subject of those frivolous 911 contacts in danger of arrest for a crime they haven't committed, or an interaction with the police that could otherwise have been avoided.

Just recently, Amy Cooper called the police on a man who was birdwatching in a New York park because he'd asked her if she could put her dog onto a leash.

Then, closer to where the law is being proposed, Jennifer Schulte called the police when she saw two black men having a barbecue in a park.

A woman also threatened to call the cops on a man for stenciling 'Black Lives Matter' in chalk on his own house.

This new law aims to punish those who think they can use the police to intimidate people of colour who have done nothing wrong.

Walton argues that the proposed measures 'are part of a larger nationwide movement to address racial biases and implement consequences for weaponizing emergency resources with racist intentions'.

It's similar to a bill put forward by California State Assembly member Rob Bonta that calls for people who use law enforcement in a way that is biased towards people for their race, class, appearance, or religion.

Speaking about that piece of legislation, Bonta said: "This bill could protect millions of Californians from becoming targets of hate and prevent the weaponization of our law enforcement against communities of colour."

Let's hope that it makes a difference.

Starblaze Fri 10-Jul-20 19:51:50

I haven't really come across it much, I'm asking if that's what people are saying MawB as to why they call people "Karen"

Callistemon Fri 10-Jul-20 19:53:18

Karens of the world unite

Sue for defamation of character.

Starblaze Fri 10-Jul-20 19:57:40

As for CAREN

Maybe there is a way to change it to CARE instead

Callistemon Fri 10-Jul-20 20:07:31

Maybe suggest it?

They seem to have named the campaign to link with the name though.
Naughty.

MawB Fri 10-Jul-20 20:10:56

Starblaze

I haven't really come across it much, I'm asking if that's what people are saying MawB as to why they call people "Karen"

By asking in that way Starblaze you are admitting of the possibility that all Karens are whatever the trope says they are.
Can’t you see that?
What do you think the following have in common-
Karen Carpenter
Karen Blixen (author of Put of Africa)
Karen Nyberg (astronaut)
Karen Dotrice (actor, played Mrs Banks in Mary Poppins)
Karen Putzer , Italian Alpine skier
Professor Karen Uhlenbeck, mathematician and founder of modern geometric analysis
Karen Barber, English ice dancer and bronze medalist in 1983
I would say nothing at all, other than their Christian name!

MawB Fri 10-Jul-20 20:11:43

Out of Africa blush

Starblaze Fri 10-Jul-20 20:12:51

No, I was just asking. Sorry for causing offense

GagaJo Fri 10-Jul-20 20:14:52

Callistemon

I think they're on a losing streak here, Gagajo
Sorry.

Calling these people "Karen" was a big mistake by whoever decided it was a good idea.
It will antagonise more people than will be sympathetic, unfortunately.

Let what goes on in America should stay in America.
If it should start over here then I hope anyone rying it will be charged with wasting police time.

I'm not surprised to hear that Ooopsminty. It's along the same lines as 'OK Boomer'. They're used about our age group, not BY our age group. I'm quite sure the students at my school will have called me a Karen at some point. I really DGAF. Younger generations always think they know it all and reinvent the wheel. It's just how life is.

Callistemon Fri 10-Jul-20 20:15:47

I could add more Karens whom I know or am related to.
Come to think of it, most with degrees.
And one is Japanese.
How does she fit in?

GagaJo Fri 10-Jul-20 20:19:15

Hmmm, Callistemon, I know a young Karen (she has old parents, older than me even!) and unfortunately she fits the stereotype.

My late SiL however, was also a Karen and as an older, kind, very laid back black lady could not have been less like it.

MawB Fri 10-Jul-20 20:20:06

Oopsminty ? confusedconfused

rosecarmel Fri 10-Jul-20 20:34:25

Callistemon

I think they're on a losing streak here, Gagajo
Sorry.

Calling these people "Karen" was a big mistake by whoever decided it was a good idea.
It will antagonise more people than will be sympathetic, unfortunately.

Let what goes on in America should stay in America.
If it should start over here then I hope anyone rying it will be charged with wasting police time.

Ok, boomer-

GagaJo Fri 10-Jul-20 20:35:27

Hahaha rosecarmel

rosecarmel Fri 10-Jul-20 20:37:06

On second thought, calling them Karen makes complete sense-

MawB Fri 10-Jul-20 20:49:40

Let what goes on in America stay in America
gringrin.

Oh if only.

Callistemon Fri 10-Jul-20 20:55:38

Oh dear, rosecarmel
How sad.

I am not a boomer nor a Karen!

Callistemon Fri 10-Jul-20 20:57:48

Why not call them Rosecarmels?

Isn't Carmel in California?

Callistemon Fri 10-Jul-20 21:00:30

Caution Against Racially Motivated Episodes of Libel.

MawB Fri 10-Jul-20 21:05:56

Caution Against Racially Motivated Exploitative Libel ?

Callistemon Fri 10-Jul-20 21:09:53

Yes.

Any acronym but the name of thousands of innocent women.

lemongrove Fri 10-Jul-20 21:44:31

Riverwalk

Of course it's an important issue which in my opinion is trivialised by giving it a woman's name, rather than a proper legal description!

So you can use an innocuous name to describe a woman who is mouthy, or awkward, aggressive, or blatantly racist?

It's just so sexist!

Absolutely!

Dollymc2 Fri 10-Jul-20 22:13:15

It's derogatory, why give something derogatory a woman's name?
What's that all about?
I remember many years ago having to attend one of those God awful team building events
You had to write down your name and others had to discuss the connotations that your name held
It was rather humiliating
My name suggests a 'fluffy' person
I'm actually not

Callistemon Fri 10-Jul-20 22:15:42

An unpleasant trend, Dollymc2

rosecarmel Fri 10-Jul-20 22:47:14

Callistemon

Why not call them Rosecarmels?

Isn't Carmel in California?

Or simply American -- as previously suggested- Since they are one in the same-

Which suggests all Karens are the same- As well as all African Americans-

I suppose if people have small feet they don't mind habitually sticking them in their mouth ..

MawB Fri 10-Jul-20 22:57:42

rosecarmel

Callistemon

Why not call them Rosecarmels?

Isn't Carmel in California?

Or simply American -- as previously suggested- Since they are one in the same-

Which suggests all Karens are the same- As well as all African Americans-

I suppose if people have small feet they don't mind habitually sticking them in their mouth ..

confusedconfused. Bring obscure again I fear.

Whoever mentioned Odontipedology?