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White woman who called NYC cops on black man gives up dog, gets fired from her job
A white woman who told New York City police an “African-American man is threatening my life” during a dispute about her dog is now apologizing and has since lost her job.
“I sincerely and humbly apologize to everyone, especially to that man, his family,” Amy Cooper told NBC New York. “It was unacceptable and I humbly and fully apologize to everyone who’s seen that video, everyone that’s been offended … everyone who thinks of me in a lower light and I understand why they do.”
The now-viral incident, caught on video, unfolded in Central Park on Monday after avid birdwatcher Christian Cooper said he politely asked Amy Cooper to leash her dog. Christian Cooper uploaded the video to Facebook on Monday, where it has since been viewed millions of times on social media.
Amy Cooper’s dog was unleashed and “tearing through the plantings,” despite a sign indicating that dogs must be leashed “at all times,” he wrote on Facebook.
In the minute-long video clip, the woman threatens to call the cops and tell them there’s an “African-American man threatening my life.”
“Please tell them whatever you like,” Christian Cooper responds, according to the video.
The video, which appears to show the woman calling police, soon landed on the radar of Amy Cooper’s employer, investment management firm Franklin Templeton.
On Monday, the company announced Cooper’s suspension. After further review of the incident, the firm said it had fired her.
“Following our internal review of the incident in Central Park yesterday, we have made the decision to terminate the employee involved, effective immediately,” the company wrote in a statement posted to Twitter. “We do not tolerate racism of any kind at Franklin Templeton.”
Amy Cooper has not only faced complaints of racism, but accusations of animal cruelty as well. She’s since surrendered her dog to a local rescue group after the video appeared to show her choking her dog as she grabbed it by the leash.
Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue addressed the incident in a statement Monday.
“The dog is now in our rescue’s care and he is safe and in good health,” the group said on Facebook.
Police response
In a statement, the New York Police Department said officers responded to the incident just after 8 a.m. Monday, according to USA TODAY.
“Police determined two individuals had engaged in a verbal dispute,” authorities said. “There were no arrests or summonses issued; both parties went on their way.”
Some people said the video was reminiscent of other racially charged incidents in which police were called on African-Americans for innocuous reasons such as barbecuing in the park, or selling bottled water. Some also accused Cooper of weaponizing her white woman privilege.
“Never forget that the white woman who got Emmett Till lynched later admitted — a few years ago in fact — that she lied,” writer Adrienne Samuels Gibbs said on Twitter, adding, “She lied on a young teen and he was murdered. These lies continue, except now — sometimes — we have video.”
The hashtags #FireAmyCooper and #AmyCooperIsaRacist began trending on social media Monday.
“#AmyCooper said, ‘Her entire life is being destroyed right now,’“ another Twitter user chimed in. “But she had NO PROBLEM trying to destroy a Black man’s life with her lies. She knew exactly what she was doing and now she is on her ‘I’m the real victim’ tour.”
When asked why he decided to film the encounter, Christian Cooper told NBC New York, “We live in an age of Ahmaud Arbery where black men are gunned down because of assumptions people make about black men, black people.
“I’m just not going to participate in that,” he added.
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