Yesterday, we discussed how the NYPD had actually decided to charge “Central Park Karen” Amy Cooper with a misdemeanor. Amy Cooper called 911 and feigned hysteria about an “African-American man threatening me” because he told her to leash her dog. The way she almost gleefully feigned hysteria and panic was really something, and you could tell that she was so happy at the very idea of getting the police to murder a black man for asking her to follow Central Park regulations. The man in question is Christian Cooper, a bird-watcher and beautiful nerd who merely filmed Amy Cooper’s horrendous actions. Christian has gotten a lot of positive attention from the incident and he’s used that attention to promote bird-watching and racial justice. But when it comes to Amy Cooper, he doesn’t think she should be charged or prosecuted:
The Manhattan district attorney’s decision to charge a white woman with filing a false police report against a Black man in Central Park does not have the support of one key person: the victim himself. The man, Christian Cooper, has not cooperated with the prosecution’s investigation. The woman, Amy Cooper, lost her job and was publicly shamed after a video Mr. Cooper made on May 25 was posted online; it showed her calling 911 to claim an “African-American man” was threatening her. Those consequences alone, Mr. Cooper said at the time, were in his view perhaps too much punishment.
“On the one hand, she’s already paid a steep price,” Mr. Cooper said in a statement on Tuesday. “That’s not enough of a deterrent to others? Bringing her more misery just seems like piling on.” But he added that he understood there was a greater principle at stake and that this should be defended. “So if the DA feels the need to pursue charges, he should pursue charges. But he can do that without me.”
Mr. Cooper’s decision not to cooperate may present some challenges for prosecutors. But it also reflects a wider debate among people who generally consider themselves allies in the growing movement to call attention to and fight racism, not just in policing, but in society.
Christian Cooper is a better and more compassionate person than me. I want all of these unhinged Karens and Kens locked up. I know there are great arguments on both sides, arguments about our flawed criminal justice system, arguments about compassion and grace. But I still think about how easy it was for Amy Cooper to call 911 and pretend that she was being “threatened.” Think about how easy it would have been for the story to have an even more tragic ending. Prosecute this bitch.
Speaking of, did you guys see the stuff about The CAREN Act? The CAREN Act should be a national bill.
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. Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies. #CARENact #sanfrancisco
— Shamann Walton (@shamannwalton) July 7, 2020
Photos courtesy of social media, IG.
I think this man is just too nice of a person. It seems he has forgiven her and that is his right. I just hope she learned from this and sets an example for others moving forward.
I don’t think she has learned anything and still won’t if she doesn’t get charged with anything.
I’m really happy he’s so gracious and doesn’t want to get involved. Wonderful man.
However, I hope she’s charged for this and it goes on her record. That way, he will forever have to explain this to every potential employer or organisation she’s hoping to join.
Once the Karens of the world understand that they could pay a steep price for their actions, they’ll wield their power with a little more sense.
Yes but the problem is these “Karens” shouldn’t have power in the first place. Their White skin shouldn’t allow for this bullsh*t behavior to be tolerated in the first place. Even if she isn’t charged with anything, the internet never forgets. She’s famous now and will forever be known as a Karen. But then again, she’s White so of course she won’t have a problem getting a new good paying job because Karens also work in HR and do most of the hiring.
Not only is this gentleman a dreamy bird nerd, he is classy as all get out. I am a fan!
@Lynn, you captured what I wanted to say much more eloquently and gave me a chuckle. Well said.
In this Cooper versus Cooper case, my contention is that Cooper 1’s forgiving proclivity might get the next (black) man killed, and that the next (white) woman’s call for an actual assault might be dismissed as another lunacy. So why not bestow our charitable deeds on deserving people and teach the whiny entitled dunces a lesson that would benefit society at large? I do respect Me Cooper’s decision but still find his kindness misplaced, not to say irresponsible.
I totally agree. The thing is, the case can still go forward. It would be New York vs Amy Cooper. It’s a criminal charge, not a civil case. And they have video evidence. So it could still happen. It’s up to the DA.
They don’t need his testimony to move the case forward. The recorded evidence is enough. Yes I do think she should be punished for this.
I was coming here to say the same thing–he is one classy guy. However, as kind as gracious as he is, she still needs to be prosecuted if for no other reason than to hopefully set an example. This dangerous game of calling police because a black person sneezes the wrong way has got to stop.
Our people are too forgiving.
Agree. I’m tired of this narrative that black people are always supposed to be performative, always be forgiving and be the better person. This woman tried to get this man killed, period. She weaponized her tears and the police like so many others. The goal is to deter these calls. I’m sure he just wants to move on and is tired of talking about this, but this b@tch needs to be prosecuted.
@bluesky – agree 100%
Listen this woman is an absolute bitch who deserved to to be called out on her BS and lose her job, but saying she wanted him killed is a bit of a reach. She wanted him arrested. I doubt she wanted him dead for this. As for Mr. Cooper, he is pure class.
@BK she absolutely put his life in danger and I stand by that. The same day this happened is the same day George Floyd was killed. The police got called on him because the store owner thought he was passing fake money. Rayshad Brooks fell asleep in his car and the police were called. She knew exactly what to say to get the police to come. He was “threatening” her??? He’s a big black man?? F@ck that. She knew exactly what she was doing and what would happen. Do you know what it’s like to walk around with a target on your back every day for minding your own business?? She’s not dumb. These tactics have been used for decades.
It’s not fair to say that him being a better person is “performative”. He is a better person, don’t take that from him.
BK, she specifically said that she was going to call the police and tell them that an African American man was threatening her. She knew exactly what she was doing.
Yes.
Mind you, I am not a Black woman and it would not be up to me to disagree with you. However, since I agree with you whole-heartedly, I think it’s ok for me to chime in with my support.
For instance, the Amber Guyger sentencing, when the family members forgave her, the one sibling hugged her, the guard fussed with her hair? I felt pain on behalf of Botham Jean and his loved ones who did not want to perform forgiveness. That was horrifying.
My vote is that Black persons have every right to decide how forgiving they want to be, and if they don’t want to forgive, it’s up to the rest of us to respectfully support that.
How many times must a person turn the other cheek before there is, finally, no place left to land yet another blow?
Amen!
Yes and please don’t throw tomatoes at me, but Tom Joyner said the same on the R Kelly documentary. He said it may be rooted in the Black Community’s deep Christian value system. But I do agree and she should be prosecuted for falsifying the evident and using race as an reason to escalate the crime. Race or ethnicity should never play a part but we here already know that.
Seraphina, not throwing tomatoes at you. Whatever religious service a black person attends, forgiveness is preached, love and pray for thy enemy, use Jesus as a role model etc. One day black folks gonna learn. The same person a black person will forgive if the tables were turned would forgiveness be offered? I think not. Several weeks ago in the UK, there was a photo of a black man carrying an injured white supremacist to the police, I believe to protect him. Now if this was vice versa those skinheads would “romper stomp” his a**.
I agree.
He’s a better person then I. Yes she’s received a lot of crap, but she did it to herself. This isn’t a one time thing for her. There’s first hand accounts that everyone in her building hate her. She’s always starting shit with everyone, even tried to get her doorman fired. Thankfully, nobody listened to her, knowing her reputation. They said she feels like a perpetual victim, when in fact she’s always the perpetrator. There needs to be some serious consequences, because clearly she doesn’t get it.
CAREN/Karen. Lol
Christian Cooper is too good for this world. What a compassionate, lovely man. Unlike him, I am not too good for this world and think Karen Cooper needs to be charged.
IDK, having this woman pay a fine for a misdemeanor seems like performative justice to me.
No fine community service. They should make her work in underprivileged communities.
He’s not too good for this world. He’s how people SHOULD behave, but instead we as a society are determined to shame and destroy people for their irrational, fear-based choices instead of helping rehabilitate and support them in making positive changes. Some will learn, some won’t, but a some point we have to let her live her life.
Had she had her way, Christian Cooper wouldn’t have had a life to live.
And just how many black people have to be murdered in an attempt to rehabilitate White people determined to wield white supremacy as a deadly weapon?
No. And did I mention, no! Insisting black peoples victimized by white supremacy turn the other cheek is not progress. It’s White supremacist torture porn!
Her response to what was happening was too fast. And if that’s her default, there’s no easy way to train an old dog. Consequences. Harsh consequences will disrupt the default and maybe she’ll think first. But if she’s resistant and can’t see her mistakes, she’ll do it again. If people don’t see themselves clearly, change is moot. Punishment is moot. Maybe she thinks she’s a victim in all this. Regardless, she needs therapy in order to live in a society. Court ordered schooling about the basic tenets of social responsibility.
Naw, I totally believe he is preparing to sue her in civil court. Just a feeling.
If he was planning on suing in civil court it would help him to have a prior criminal conviction. He’s not going to sue her.
While I commend Christian Cooper for being the bigger man, I wish he wouldn’t take this stance. As a white woman, I know other white women, and Amy Cooper isn’t going to learn unless she learns the hard way.
Also, this is not just about him. Him not cooperating just allows this to happen again because other Karens tempted to behave this way will think it’s no big deal. He’s letting the racists win by not forcing Amy to face consequences.
I fear Amy Cooper or another like her will, in the future, get an innocent black man killed by police as a result of Christian being too forgiving.
Am I crazy to feel this way? I respect his goodness and what he is trying to do, but I think his goodness just keeps any real change from happening. It may be in his best interest to forgive Amy, but I don’t think it’s in society’s best interest.
Perfectly said!!
I agree completely. Actions have consequences. Let these consequences be an example to others.
Rapunzel, I absolutely understand what you are saying and don’t disagree with your opinion entirely. But he was the victim here, not by choice, and he shouldn’t have to take this “crusade” up if he doesn’t want to. I am just not comfortable with insisting he do something he doesn’t want to.
I DO agree with you that she needs to be prosecuted and that this case matters a lot nd can set a precedent.
In the same vein, I think a rape survivor has every right to opt not to pursue a court case. I know that is a whole separate can of worms, but I think that being a witness could be a very unpleasant situation for Mr Cooper too. It would be inconvenient at best, but would also prolong the amount of time this discussion is part of his every day life. Maybe he has forgiven her and just doesn’t want to have to live through that whole circus.
Hopefully, as someone pointed out above, the state CAN and will prosecute this on their own, they have video so they can pursue this without his testimony.
Is he good? Is he tired of the attention? Does he believe that she may have learned her lesson? Is he compassionate (she lost her job)?
All of the above probably. But this needs to be taken to another level or the Karens will never learn.
Exactly!
She already knows what it’s like to be in court surrounding her obsession with a married man. This woman needs help with her mental health. Not an excuse for her a**holery, but she’s not going to get better, charges or no charges, without some professional intervention. Mental illness gets worse as you age if left untreated.
As much as I wish that was a mental health issue, racism is not a mental health issue – it’s chosen ignorance (once you reach adulthood anyway) mixed with hate and narcissism. I love numerous people with true mental health issues…and while I’m not a clinician, I shudder at the idea of calling it that.
I agree racism is not the mental health issue. I’m referring to the other incidents that she’s been named in. Her interactions with other tenants in her building, the doorman, this coworker she became obsessed with.
ETA: Narcissism is a mental disorder falling under personality disorders.
Maybe he’s just a good, secure person who appreciates the support he has gotten from the world and doesn’t need to for her to be punished for his validation. I firmly believe that people like him are what will change this country. No anger, no retribution, no self interest, just goodness, mercy, and understanding. I will continue to aspire to be like him. Thanks Christian Cooper. ( I even started looking up birds I didn’t recognize in my yard, just because he peaked my interest in them.)
People like him is not truly good for the country. She could have gotten him killed. Tired of white women weaponising their tears and lies for hundreds of years and getting black women, men and children lynched.
It is about time the ‘turn the other cheek’ is stopped because white women are not learning.
So I would not thank him as a black person. It’s time white women learn that the full force of the law will come down on them when they do crap like this.
Nothing is going to change by being forgiving and being compassionate because the ‘enemy’ does not have a conscience.
I also have the suspicion it’s a meaningless and even harmful gesture on his part — that Amy Coopers will interpret it as patronizing (you don’t get to “forgive” me, I didn’t nothing “really” wrong) and that she’ll be doubling down on her racist a@#.
I respect his decision. However, I think it is problematic to label his choice as the ‘right’ choice, or suggest that choices like this will make the world a better place. It is not up to Black people to be forgiving martyrs to make this world a better place. This woman could have gotten him killed. Not prosecuting her doesn’t just endanger him. It endangers every person of color because it emboldens others to this illegal conduct. There is no equality without justice.
Agreed.
As a prosecutor this infuriates me. There is a public interest bigger than his forgiveness here. In Canada, it is the prosecution who decides whether a charge proceeds (ie you cannot “drop the charges” as we hear said in the US). That said, given that the offence is largely captured on video, provided it is authenticated that should assist, although there would have to be evidence as to what went on before. Regardless of his comments, in Canada and I assume the US he can still be subpoenaed to give evidence. If he has given a statement there are legal means (at least in Canada, presumably also in the US) to have that admitted when a witness recants or refused to cooperate. I am under no illusions that the system is flawed, but his stated refusal to participate disappoints me to no end. I get so tired of hearing people clamour for justice and then say “but I’m not going to participate!” There’s both specific deterrence (re her) and general deterrence (re others tempted to do the same thing) at play and I’m sorry but his position is selfish to everyone else who is at risk.
I respect his decision. I disagree with it, but I respect it. As for the US legal system. He can say he won’t cooperate all he wants. But he can be compelled to testify. And the DA doesn’t have to drop the charges because he wants them to.
@wtf – thanks for clarifying re the US procedures.
It would be nearly impossible to mount a case without him. If they wanted, they could force him to testify via a material witness warrant, but that would involve threatening him with jail. I doubt the DA wants to go that far with it.
They’d be smart to offer her a plea involving some kind of community service and leave it be. Or just drop the charges. It will be an epic mess otherwise.
To compel his testimony, the DA would have to move to obtain a material witness warrant, would involve issuing a warrant for HIM, the authorities picking him up, and him being possibly incarcerated until he agrees to testify.
Do you REALLY think it is in any way advisable to do any of that, especially in a case such as this one?
@samthepink – is that the process in the US? We’ve got material witness warrants in Canada too but they’re a last resort and only if someone doesn’t respond to a subpoena. Even before then, victims’ services would try to set up a meeting with the prosecution and the victim/witness to see if their concerns can be allayed or dealt with. That often works too. I find that most people even if recanting or reluctant do come when subpoenaed. A lot of people say they’re refusing to come but do show up once they’re served. Once they’re on the stand if they refuse to speak or claim they lied or have no memory there are means to get their prior statements admitted, although that’s a uphill battle (easier here because of the video). And generally people arrested on material witness warrants as a last resort are released on bail the same day with conditions to come back for the trial. Their release says nothing about the substance of their testimony – only that they have to return to court and take the stand. Are witnesses held in custody until the trial where you are? Obviously none of this is ideal in any case.
They are supposed to be a last resort here as well, but they are an option. Basically, they can be used when a witness is “material” – meaning, they are essential to your case. Mr. Cooper certainly qualifies.
And yes, in the US, a material witness can be held or detained until their testimony. If Mr. Cooper were subpoenaed and refused to show, a material witness warrant could be issued and the police would collect him (and yes, they are permitted to use force to get you to come if need be) and you’d be brought to court and then, if you continued to refuse cooperation, you can absolutely be detained.
Think of the optics of that. A black man being taken out of his home by cops, possibly detained in a jail because he declined to testify against a white woman who was racist against him. It would be a disaster. A lot of prosecutors decline to use material witness warrants or use them only in serious felonies or in exceptional circumstances. This? For a misdemeanor? They’d be crazy.
@redgrl No problem. Also I don’t think it would come to a material witness warrant. I don’t think Cooper would ignore or refuse a subpoena. And I think he would tell the truth if compelled to testify. I think what he is saying is that he’s not going to cooperate with the investigation, meaning that he isn’t going to go in for interviews or help them gather evidence. This is a law abiding guy.
I think he understands how quickly she will gain sympathy if he is the one pressing charges as opposed to being magnanimous. I wish it weren’t so, and that POC did not have to be dreamy, mild-mannered birdwatchers just for their stories to be credible.
I would look at the example of the president demanding by tweet that Bubba Wallace apologize for a threat against him that he didn’t even report! To me, involving Christian Cooper further would risk amplifying Amy Cooper’s victimhood (Why is he ruining my life? Poor me!) but also sort of makes him responsible for her education and rehabilitation, just because that’s what our culture demands.
He doesn’t have to forgive her. He doesn’t need to teach her a Very Important Lesson. I hope he will be allowed the chance to move on from her narrative, and be as much or as little in the public eye as he wishes to be.
Yeah he’s nice or whatever, but this situation is SO much bigger than him. If he wants to forgive then that’s his right (MUCH nicer than me) but I think this is important for EVERYONE moving forward. Just because she didn’t get the result she wanted (his death) when she called wolf to the police, doesn’t mean someone else is gonna be denied. Is there a way to move forward with this without him???
I don’t know if the city can charge Karen without him, but if they can I hope they do. People as entitled as her never learn until you f-k them with a pitchfork, and while I see his point, he had better know, she would NEVER do that for him.
The folks on this thread need to read about abolition. There is a bigger issue at play, and it’s not about false reports. If we keep turning to the carceral system (policing, mass incarceration, etc.) to solve our problems we will never get to the root of this issue. Read Angela Davis. Read Ruth Wilson Gilmore and Miariame Kaba. We need to think about all of these issues in a radically different way.
I’m with you on abolition. I have heard a similar argument about Breonna Taylor’s murderers. However, I think while we are working on abolition, these people should sit in jail. Just like the millions of Black and Brown people are.
Putting people behind bars for all kinds of tiny non-violent crimes does not solve any problems. It just makes them bigger. It also does no justice to POC who have to serve time because they should not be there either. Two wrongs don’t make it right. The US judicial system needs to be reformed and stripped of its racism. It favours wealthy people who can afford lawyers, bails and to go to trial. The majority of those people are white. That’s a big reason why they do not end up in a jail cell. They pay their way out. Black offenders who are wealthy have similar chances to get away with their crimes like OJ Simpson and R. Kelly did for decades.
That said, Karen Cooper needs to be prosecuted. She’s a racist who put an innocent man in danger and abused an emergency hotline for this. Things like that are illegal in other countries as well and come with a hefty fine.
Considering the whole thing was filmed, and the whole world has seen it…do they need him for the prosecution?
I get the impression he’s a gracious, forgiving man who doesn’t want to be involved in this situation anymore. That’s his right, and I can’t blame him, his whole life got up ended because some dumb racist didn’t leash her dog. But I do hope this doesn’t let her get away with it.
The whole thing was not filmed. By Cooper’s own admission, the tape begins when she begins yelling and approaching him. The initial interaction between them (when he asked her to leash the dog) was not filmed. He started filming when she reacted the way she did.
That creates a problem. Her lawyer will argue that there is an unfilmed portion in which he does threaten her (I do not believe that, but for argument’s sake). And without him there to rebut, how does the prosecution counter it? You can argue her body language is not that of a threatened person, but that’s not a guarantee.
Ah, got it.
If it comes down to it, maybe he’ll change his mind. I hope she sees some sort of legal repercussions for this.
An additional point to consider, everybody: Maybe Mr. Cooper doesn’t want to go through what he probably knows will happen at trial? If he cooperates, he will have to testify – and if he testifies, he will be subject to cross. And on cross, the defense will speculate as to all kinds of things – did he threaten her? What happened before he started to film? His background is fair game on cross. Does he have a record? Has he ever threatened anybody in his life? His relationships, his family, his whole life can be probed. Maybe he’d rather not have that done? Maybe he’d rather leave his loved ones, friends, etc. out of it? Maybe he’s scared?
We often think about the process female victims have to go through, with good reason, but men can have the same concerns. Trial is very unkind to victims of all stripes. He’s a black man, he knows the odds. Maybe he’d just rather not deal with it? Maybe he doesn’t forgive Amy, but he’s just tired.
@samthepink – I had wondered about that too (re him not wanting to participate because of her counsel dragging him through the mud.) But then she wins again – by a court allowing a victim to be bullied and revictimized by a defence counsel who is not properly controlled by the bench. Those of us in the business have seen that far too often. Regardless, I think there’s enough of a public interest and I hope he decides to participate, not just for himself but also for the next person.
Good thing she ran into an Ivy League Birdwatcher and not somebody trying to get to their 8-8 at Walmart…come to think of it…that would have been tragic…
For the Walmart worker…
If this lady doesn’t get charged for making false police report then who would? Video of her saying she intends to do it, I mean c’mon.
Why on earth won’t dog owners just keep their pets on a leash? It is the law in many places, but they still won’t obey the law. Our dog can be “other dog aggressive”, so he is always on a leash where mandated. We also take responsibility for him at all times, which means that we don’t allow him to wander off in case he attacks another dog, and we also expect other dog owners to prevent their dog from attacking our dog. What is wrong with people like this particular “Karen”???
Oh…and I’m not even going to touch on wrongful accusations towards any man, woman, or every other identity. That’s just willingly every essential workers’ valuable time in an age that essential workers are vilified and also spread too thin,
Black forgivance has not served Black people in this nation. Dylan Roof was forgiven. Why? People are marching for BLM and fighting white supremacy. Amy Cooper will lay low and be back to her normal life in two years. He should prosecute her, there needs to be a precedence set!
If these a-holes knew they could be arrested or pay high fines, they might do what they were supposed to do in the first place and keep their racially motivated hate in check and INSIDE their sick minds.
He has so much grace. She tried to kill him and he responds with kindness. Amy will get deported (someone correct me but either way even if she’s not convicted), hope she gets the mental help she so needs.
gesture of forgiveness. god’s grace.
This man is just too nice. I wish he felt differently because she is just trash. There will be more of these crazy Karen and Ken stories. They are saying long term effects of Covid will affect the brain. I think the pandemic has truly brought out the worst in so many. I hope that Americans vote to make a change in November, for the world’s sake.
Clearly, NYPD doesn’t need Mr Cooper’s cooperation to charge her since they’ve already done so. They know the content and provenance of the video evidence, and they have public statements acknowledging the facts of the altercation.
I get why the top-down establishment wants to make an example of Amy Cooper, but it likely wouldn’t work anyway. They’ll have to prove she didn’t feel threatened, and frankly, Mr Cooper’s “I’m going to do what I want and you’re not going to like it” could make that difficult.
(Please don’t get me wrong – Amy Cooper is a racist POS. Full stop. She sought to bring the twitchy muscle of the New York Paramil- er -Police Department down on this man hard, and she can just go right ahead and F aaaaaaall the way off.)
She’ll spend a couple weeks cleaning up trash and if she behaves herself for a year or so, they’ll let it go.
Very disappointed.
So much to digest. Like those who think Mr. Coopers forgiveness is not perfomative. It absolutely is but not on his part, it’s part of white folks view on who deserves redemption. Oh he should forgive her, oh people want to destroy others for fear based mistakes, oh he is just too good or classy (read not uppity) to press charges.
MS. Cooper wanted Mr. Copper assaulted, arrested, and or killed. Let that sink in. Her performance wasn’t based on fear. That’s a racist lens to view her behavior through. She weaponized her whiteness. And she relished every moment.
Mr. Cooper is endangering the next black man who might cross her path and that’s his choice. But all of you cosigning when black folk don’t get a tenth of the compassion you want him to show his assailant shows how deep white supremacy runs in our national consciousness.
Whew! That “fear based mistake” comment that poster made made me see red! Amy Cooper didn’t make a fear based mistake. She made a calculated action based off white entitlement and knowing she would be believed. She was ok with a black man getting beaten, arrested or executed, all because a black man dared to insist she follow park rules and leash her dog.
The excuses for that are unacceptable. It’s moments like that where I’m reminded that if black people truly had as many allies as people claim to be, we wouldn’t have to fear for our lives while doing any regular daily activities while black. People like to see us suffer, beg and forgive. And it’s not just conservatives.
Seeing as Mr Cooper is the victimized party here, I respect his point of view and his choice.
I also see why a Black man feels not desire or need to cooperate with the police and the prosecution.
Additionally, prosecuting Central Park Karen does, at this point, have a whiff of performativeness about it, like deleting questionable episodes of Golden Girls or Kimmy Schmidt :” Here, have some token gestures in lieu of actual systemic change! Now be good and stop protecting! ”
So good on Mr Cooper for refusing to allow his instrumentalization. …