For a short while this Memorial Day it appeared as if that day's most well-documented, overt example of racist behavior had happened in the Ramble in New York City's Central Park. Of course, before day's end, George Floyd died at the hands - and under the knee - of four now-former members of the Minneapolis, Minnesota police department.
Earlier this week, Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance announced his office had charged Amy Cooper with "falsely reporting an incident in the third degree", a misdemeanor for which she was issued a desk appearance ticket for an October 14, 2020 court appearance.
Mr. Vance's proposed prosecution of Ms. Cooper shall not benefit from the assistance of Ms. Cooper's victim, Christian Cooper. Mr. Cooper, who never lost his cool even a little when Ms. Cooper first went ballistic and then called 9-1-1, lied to the dispatcher that Mr. Cooper, an African-American, was "threatening myself and my dog", and requested officers respond to the scene.
In the aftermath of this incident, Ms. Cooper offered the obligatory apology (of course), which did not save her job at Franklin Templeton. Now, in response to Mr. Vance's decision to prosecute her for what she did, Mr. Cooper's position is that he personally feels she has suffered enough for what she did and while he understands the greater principle at stake and why the District Attorney has charged her, he does not intend to be a part of it, which is of course his right.
Christian Cooper did nothing to warrant that to which Amy Cooper subjected him in the Ramble several weeks ago. She has earned neither his mercy nor his grace. Yet, he has shown her both and continues to do so. A remarkable man. A better human than his tormentor.
A far better human than I.
-AK
No comments:
Post a Comment