Recently, the term “Karen” has become increasingly popular to describe privileged white women who are arrogant and unreasonable. They can often be found racially targeting Black families and children, often resorting to hate speech or violence in pursuit of their desires.
1. California’s “Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies Act”
California lawmakers recently passed the “Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non Emergency Act,” which would label false reports to 911 or police specifically racially biased as hate crimes. Under this bill, those responsible for making such false reports would need to report them to local law enforcement as well as facing potential fines and jail time.
The California Legislature is taking a serious look at racism in our state and how it impacts communities of color. With the Covid-19 crisis exposing disproportionate rates of death from coronavirus, and racial violence in Minneapolis, Minnesota demonstrating how inequity affects those of color, it’s time for greater effort to eradicate racism from our society.
For years, California has had a Fair Employment and Housing Act that protects workers from discrimination in the workplace. Unfortunately, this does not adequately address the underlying racial injustice that many people of color endure daily.
Many times, inequity arises because many of us lack access to education and training necessary for success in our chosen careers or jobs. To guarantee this does not occur, it is essential that our laws take all measures possible to prevent racial discrimination both at work and in everyday life.
Despite all the laws in place, it is still common practice for entitled individuals to call 911 on innocent people who do not commit any crimes and simply want some peace and quiet. These calls are a waste of police resources and could put innocent people in harm’s way.
In some cases, Karen the entitled will shout and threaten other innocent individuals that she will file a report with police if they do not do as she requests. But these calls are nothing more than harassment.
This kind of behavior can be hazardous not only to others, but also our own health and safety. To stop it from happening, lawmakers have passed new laws targeting entitled Karens who falsely call 911 on innocent individuals without committing any kind of crime. These racially biased 911 calls often cause unnecessary harm and leave those responsible with a lifetime of regret and guilt.
2. New York’s “Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies Act”
Entitled Karens Who Wrongfully Call 911 on Innocent People
The term “Karen” has become a widely-used meme to describe middle-aged white women who engage in discriminatory acts against people of color, often by calling 911 to harass them. From Carolyn Bryant Dunham to #PermitPatty, these so-called “Karens” have pretended innocence or victimhood to intimidate and threaten Black people.
These racist calls have become so severe that they’ve prompted the creation of new laws in some places. For instance, California recently passed a bill making it an offense for someone of color to call 911 on someone for doing something illegal.
On Tuesday in San Francisco, an ordinance was passed that will enable those targeted by racist 911 calls to sue those responsible. This bill was sponsored by Shamann Walton of the city board of supervisors and passed unanimously.
Though a criminal conviction isn’t necessary, those responsible for making racist 911 calls will have to prove their intent. Furthermore, those wrongfully accused of crimes have the right to sue for damages in court.
The law’s goal is to prevent irrational calls, but some critics contend it could create more issues than it solves. They point to Amy Cooper – a white woman who falsely called police on a Black man in Central Park earlier this year – as an example.
She falsely reported that Cooper, who had politely asked her to put her dog on a leash, was threatening her. This case went viral with the video garnering 50 million views.
That incident drew widespread condemnation and inspired an educational course to help women appreciate the importance of treating others with dignity, regardless of race. Despite widespread condemnation, she was still arrested and accused of filing a false police report.
Other cities have passed similar laws, while other states are considering their own initiatives. Some have already taken action, such as Oregon and Michigan which recently passed anti-bias 911 call bills.
3. Florida’s “Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies Act”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently floated a law to intimidate white voters with his race-based proposals. This comes in response to concerns expressed by educators and parents about divisive concepts like systemic racism or how white privilege impacts people of color. This measure could make it harder for them to teach kids about these issues.
On Thursday, a federal judge struck down parts of the Affordable Care Act due to its violation of free speech rights and due process clause violation. As it was found impermissibly vague, it also violated both those clauses.
In June, California state Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) introduced legislation to make discriminatory 911 calls a hate crime. He explained to The Associated Press that his legislation was part of an overall nationwide movement to address racial biases and implement consequences for weaponizing emergency resources with racist intentions.
Meanwhile, San Francisco County Supervisor Shamann Walton recently introduced an ordinance known as the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies Act. This is clearly intended to capitalize on the internet meme of entitled Karens calling police on people of color because they feel entitled to complain about them.
The CAREN Act empowers victims of racially charged calls to sue the person who made them in court if they have experienced harassment, intimidation or discrimination. According to the law, calling 911 with the intention to target someone based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, nationality country of origin ancestry disability or sexual orientation is a misdemeanor.
These calls are indicative of the growing problem with racial profiling in America, making it urgent to curb this practice. Recently, there has been an uptick in racially motivated police calls as Black Lives Matter activists take to the streets and draw attention to police violence against Black people.
In May 2013, Amy Cooper, a middle-aged woman bird watching in Central Park, called the police on a Black man she believed to be threatening her. Her video call went viral and sparked an investigation by the NYPD; eventually leading to her arrest and charge with making a false report.
4. Minnesota’s “Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies Act”
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has unanimously passed a law that will enable those targeted by racial discrimination to sue those responsible for false calls. Dubbed “Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies Act,” (CAREN), this measure guarantees protection to people of color from discriminatory 911 calls and allows them to recover damages up to $1,000 in damages.
This proposal, similar to Oregon’s law, comes amid a national discussion on race and in the wake of Minnesota police killing George Floyd which sparked widespread protests for racial justice.
Many times, those targeted aren’t Black or Brown but white women who pretend innocence and victimhood by calling 9-1-1 to harass and intimidate innocent black neighbors or to intimidate and threaten them when they dare live a life that makes their entitled Karen uncomfortable. From Carolyn Bryant Dunham and #PermitPatty to Amy Cooper, these types of irrational threats and attacks are often perpetrated by white women who believe Black people exist solely for them or their benefit, then take irrational action when disabused of those assumptions.
Irrational behavior is particularly prevalent in urban areas where Black and Brown neighborhoods are frequently ignored by local police who fail to follow up on reported incidents. This creates a dangerous cycle of false reports and accusations that damage community-police relations while overcriminalizing Black and Brown populations.
In addition to the CAREN, state legislators are considering legislation that would classify false reports based on race or other protected identities as a hate crime, punishable by either felony or misdemeanor. Bonta introduced this measure last month and is currently working to add language granting victims of racist 911 calls the right to sue those responsible for their harm.
Although some of the proposed bills bear similarities to “Karen” memes, many believe it is inappropriate and sexist to associate these terms with discriminatory behavior. While it’s essential that we recognize and address these issues, let’s not let risky ideas like arming teachers dominate the conversation.
