So many of us in cities and towns across America are done with having to wonder if we’ll be put at risk by our mere existence. [1][3], Christian Cooper's video begins with Amy Cooper approaching him asking him to stop recording and pointing her finger in his face. Chris Cooper New York City's Commission on Human Rights launched an investigation Wednesday into the incident involving a woman who called police after encountering a black man while walking her dog in Central Park. Amy Cooper's dog was unleashed in the Ramble, an area where leashing is required; she allegedly refused Christian Cooper's request that her dog be leashed. The Central Park birdwatching incident was a confrontation on May 25, 2020, between Amy Cooper, a white woman walking her dog, and Christian Cooper (no relation), a black birdwatcher, in a section of New York City's Central Park known as the Ramble. Decades later, Chris and I were on an anti-stop-and-frisk march in Manhattan with our dad, Francis Cooper, who was then in his 70s. Here’s Why I Posted His Video. The following day the company fired her from her job as head of the firm's insurance investment. Chris Cooper, the black man who made national headlines when a white woman unjustly called police on him in Central Park, is endorsing Councilman Ritchie Torres in a … Violators could face prison time "if the motivation for reporting such crime is motivated by a perception or belief about their race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation". Chri… [4] He says to her: "Please don't come close to me". [5] Christian Cooper speaks with CNN's Don Lemon about the encounter he had with a white woman who called the police on him during an encounter involving her unleashed dog in Central Park. A new comic book by Chris Cooper is taking a serious look at racial strife. We need to fight together wisely, boldly and unflinchingly, while staying aware that our passion and actions can and will be used against us. "[31], In October 2020, during a court appearance for Amy Cooper, the New York County District Attorney's prosecutors revealed there was a second 9-1-1 call made by a 911 dispatcher who called Ms. Cooper back. [9], In February 2021, charges against Amy Cooper were dropped after she completed a five-session educational and therapeutic program focused on racial identity. My brother. The Manhattan district attorney recently charged Amy Cooper, who infamously became known as "Central Park Karen" after the incident. And here’s our email: letters@nytimes.com. When Christian beckoned the dog toward him with a dog treat, Amy yelled "Don't you touch my dog!" With my brother, I got to see a black man survive what could have become a deadly situation. I wanted to shine a light not just on one person, but on the systemic problem of deep racism in this country that encourages her kind of behavior. [6], The New York Times reported in October 2020 that Amy had made a second 9-1-1 call against Christian, in which she alleged that Christian had tried to assault her. I knew I wanted to make sure that Amy Cooper would not have the chance to weaponize her racism against anyone else. We went bird-watching with Chris Cooper in Central Park. Chris Cooper They were in a part of Central Park called the Ramble, where dogs are supposed to be on a leash, and Chris Cooper said the dog was running loose and tearing through plants. [18], In 2018, legislation was first proposed in the New York State Assembly by assemblyman Félix W. Ortiz that would consider falsely reporting criminal incidents against protected groups of people—including race, gender, and religion—to be a hate crime. On the morning of May 25, 2020, a woman named Amy Cooper was walking her dog in an area of Central Park known as the Ramble. Amy Cooper's dog was unleashed in the Ramble, an area where leashing is required; she allegedly refused Christian Cooper's request that her dog be leashed. The Twitter video alone received over 40 million views. I refuse to subject myself to the psychic, spiritual and emotional pain of watching them. Who is Christian Cooper, birdwatcher who filmed Amy Cooper? My mind conjured up rapid images of police officers arriving and shooting first, or throwing Chris down and then beating and choking him. In a Facebook post, … "[3] Christian then began recording on his cellphone. Chris Cooper Is My Brother. It will not be easy. The Central Park birdwatching incident was a confrontation on May 25, 2020, between Amy Cooper, a white woman walking her dog, and Christian Cooper (no relation), a black birdwatcher, in a section of New York City's Central Park known as the Ramble. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. Your everyday commitment is what will start to bring the change you want to see. That was a relief and a cause for celebration for millions of people. [8] However, the Times later made a correction that the second call was when a 9-1-1 dispatcher called her back. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. [19] The bill was re-introduced in the Assembly by Ortiz with four co-sponsors[20][21] and in the New York State Senate by Senator Brian Benjamin in May 2020 in the wake of the Central Park incident. Christian Cooper’s Dad Worked on Civil Rights Issues & Taught His Children That It … NEW YORK CITY -- The woman at the center of the Central Park dog incident caught on camera has been fired, her employer confirmed on Tuesday. I was shocked it struck such a chord. Through social media, in my writing and filmmaking, and at protests, I will continue to push for justice for people like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, as well as those whose ordeals have yet to be told. [7] Police said that by the time they responded, both individuals had left. [25], The Central Park Civic Association asked New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to ban Amy Cooper from the park. CBS2's Maurice DuBois reports. [15][16], In a Facebook commentary, television host Trevor Noah said that the confrontation between the two Coopers was an example of how white and black Americans see, and are seen by, the police differently. Others wonder if a trip to the corner store or gas station might result in a phone call that will end their lives. "[30] The following week he expanded on his feelings in a Washington Post op-ed piece, saying he was ambivalent about prosecuting her because "I think it’s a mistake to focus on this one individual. The New York State Assembly voted Monday to pass a bill inspired by Amy Cooper — the woman who called the police on black birdwatcher Chris Cooper in Central Park … By his own account, Christian then said, "Look, if you're going to do what you want, I'm going to do what I want, but you're not going to like it," and beckoned the dog toward him with a dog treat. [22][23][24] It was subsequently supported by Governor Andrew Cuomo as part of a set of other proposals related to police reform for the 2020 New York legislative session, and he signed it into law in June 2020. READ MORE: Suffolk County Police Officer In Critical Condition After Being Stabbed By Suspect Following Crash He has turned his story into a graphic novel. [19][6], During the week of the incident, the New York City Commission on Human Rights launched an investigation of the interaction, and sent a letter to Amy Cooper requesting her cooperation. Be brave and challenge it all. My brother worries when he sneaks through the trees to catch a glimpse of a beautiful warbler. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/31/opinion/chris-cooper-central-park.html Cooper is the African-American bird-watching enthusiast who was falsely accused of threatening a white woman in Central Park. Ms. Cooper is a playwright and a film, TV and comic book writer. [27] She was scheduled for arraignment on October 14. The woman was walking her unleashed dog in an animal and nature reserve section of NYC’s Central Park when Cooper politely asked her to put a … We grew up in a family of activists. Here are some tips. "[5][6] The video ends with Christian telling her "thank you", the moment she leashes the dog. It will often be messy, but it must be done. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Chris Cooper, no relation, may … She is the sister of Christian Cooper. Gay birdwatcher and victim of Central Park Karen’s viral racism is now taking on a proudly homophobic politician. In the video, Amy was seen dragging her dog, a Cocker Spaniel, by its collar. [34], Racially charged confrontation in New York City's Central Park, "The Bird Watcher, That Incident and His Feelings on the Woman's Fate", "Christian Cooper recounts incident with Amy Cooper before Central Park video", "A Black Man Asked a White Woman to Leash Her Dog. After racist park encounter, Chris Cooper takes us birding June 18, 2020 5:04 PM Subscribe A ten minute video in which Chris Cooper brings us along for a birdwatch outing in Central Park. While he filmed the encounter, the woman — known as "Central Park Karen" on social media — calls the police and falsely accuses him of threatening her life. For far too many black families, the result has been fatal; I do not watch those videos. CHRISTIAN Cooper asked a woman to control her dog – and chaos ensued in Central Park when she called police and complained that an “African American man is threatening my life.” A… Chris Cooper is the African-American bird-watching enthusiast who was falsely accused of threatening a white woman in Central Park. Racism affects all black people — men, women, boys, girls, gay, straight, nonbinary — no matter their state of employment or where or if they went to college. As my brother tells it, in the jail cell with dozens of other black men, my dad’s beautiful tenor powerfully led them in a protest song that rang out through the jail. Fortunately for Chris, the situation remained verbal. We all have a chance to step off the sidelines, to speak up, to take action and to shine a blinding light on the racism lurking in so many corners of our society. They raised me and my brother, Chris, to never shy from fighting injustice. She is the sister of Christian Cooper. Chris Cooper, who made this video, is a friend of mine. Christian Cooper, who had earlier told the New York Times of his decision not to cooperate as a witness, wrote that he was "ambivalent about the prosecution and [has] chosen not to aid the investigation." Refuse to accept racism in your midst, even in small ways — call out a cruel joke or rude behavior. [14] On June 3, after an evaluation by the shelter's veterinarian, the dog was returned to her. This is the time. We live in a country where a white person breaking rules feels confident and comfortable calling the police to threaten a black person doing nothing wrong. The Ramble is a wooded area in Central Park with a pond & brook that is famously an oasis for resting migratory birds – … But as I replayed the video several times, I felt more and more uneasy and angry, until an overwhelming fear swept over me. The Central Park incident happened the same day as the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police Department officers. [2] Christian asked Amy to leash her dog, and she allegedly refused. Statement from Amy Cooper on Central Park IncidentPR NewswireNEW YORK, May 26, 2020NEW YORK, May 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- I want to apologize to Chris Cooper for my actions when I … While my brother and I condemn the death threats that have been made against Amy Cooper, demanding some form of accountability is one of the few ways we can create a deterrent that can lead to real change. When Christian beckoned the dog toward him with a dog treat, meaning to leash the dog himself, Amy yelled "Don't you touch my dog!" The incident brought attention to the possibility that many similar events happened in the U.S. without video proof. [28] The Manhattan DA said in a statement: "We are strongly committed to holding perpetrators of this conduct accountable". [12][13] On May 25, she surrendered the dog to the shelter from which she had adopted him two years before. Lots of people keep asking me what they can do. When I’ve checked in with him over the past few days as we’ve fielded interviews and messages, I’ve asked “Are you, OK? The existence of the second 9-1-1 call was not reported by the media at the time of the incident. Bear witness. My parents both passed away recently, and I am devoted to carrying on their inspirational legacy with my own children. I asked my brother for permission to post the video on Twitter, and I didn’t expect more than 100 responses since it was Memorial Day. She was accused of falsely presenting herself as being in immediate physical danger, conjuring a history of the "tendency for people and police to treat black people with suspicion. The charges against her were dropped in February 2021 after she completed an educational course. Stand with us. [8][32][33] Amy Cooper was in court facing charges of filing a false report, which is punishable by up to one year in jail. The incident received wide publicity when a video of part of the incident went viral in the hours following the event. The man, Chris Cooper, who is an avid bird watcher, asked the woman, Amy Cooper (no relation), to put a leash on her dog. She Called the Cops", "White Woman Who Called Police on a Black Man at Central Park Apologizes, says 'I'm Not a Racist, "Amy Cooper Charged With Filing False Report After Central Park Incident", "Oh, when Karens take a walk with their dogs off leash in the famous Bramble in NY's Central Park, where it is clearly posted on signs that dogs MUST be leashed at all times, and someone like my brother (an avid birder) politely asks her to put her dog on the leash", "Amy Cooper Made 2nd 911 Call to Falsely Accuse Black Bird-Watcher", "Central Park: Amy Cooper 'made second racist call' against birdwatcher", "The White Dog Walker and #LivingWhileBlack in New York City", "Amy Cooper's 911 call is part of an all-too-familiar pattern", "Animal rescue gives dog back to white woman who called police on black man in Central Park", "White Woman Calls 911 On Black Man Birdwatching In Central Park Who Said Her Dog Should Be Leashed", "White Woman Is Fired After Calling Police on Black Man in Central Park", "Franklin Templeton fires staffer after park video goes viral", "George Floyd, the Minneapolis Protests, Ahmaud Arbery & Amy Cooper", "Why Amy Cooper's Use of 'African-American' Stung", "Cuomo wants state lawmakers to pass 'Amy Cooper' 911 false accusation bill", "New York State Assembly | Félix W. Ortiz", "Some false police reports could be a hate crime under proposed New York law", "Some false police reports could be considered hate crime if proposed New York bill passes", "Lawmakers introduce new hate crime legislation in the wake of viral Central Park video", "Amy Cooper Charged With Misdemeanor For Calling Police On Black Bird Watcher", "Poets&Quants | Charges Filed Against Chicago Booth MBA Whose Racism Went Viral", "Amy Cooper Faces Charges After Calling Police on Black Bird Watcher", "Amy Cooper Charged Who Called Police Over Black Birdwatcher", "Case Against Amy Cooper Lacks Key Element: Victim's Cooperation", "Why I have chosen not to aid the investigation of Amy Cooper", "Amy Cooper made second 911 call about Black birdwatcher in Central Park, prosecutors say", "Prosecutors allege White woman charged with calling 911 on Black birdwatcher in Central Park also falsely claimed the man tried to 'assault' her", "Amy Cooper, Who Falsely Accused Black Bird-Watcher, Has Charge Dismissed", "How 2 Lives Collided in Central Park, Rattling the Nation", 2020–21 Minneapolis–Saint Paul racial justice protests, Black Lives Matter protests in New York City, List of George Floyd protests outside the United States, Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin, Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement, Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, George Floyd Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Central_Park_birdwatching_incident&oldid=1017111753, Race-related controversies in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 10 April 2021, at 21:57. She could have gotten my brother hurt or killed. "[11] The important thing the incident highlights is the long-standing, deep-seated racial bias against us black and brown folk that permeates the United States. All of a sudden, I became one of the hundreds of black women who have watched a video of a loved one being accosted. Comics Industry Reaction to… Christian Cooper in Central Park Start small, step forward and let your action join with others’ to become a rising tide that cannot be stopped. You can transform your own world through how you teach your children, and how you speak to your neighbors and co-workers. In the responses, I saw anger and calls for social action, as well as expressions of joy that my brother had not been harmed, at least not physically. Comic book writer and editor Christian Cooper, who is not related to Amy Cooper, was birdwatching there, and noticed that Amy's dog was unleashed and running free,[1] despite the requirement that dogs in that part of the park be on-leash according to the Central Park Conservancy, which manages the park under contract with the city. Video shows part of the confrontation between Amy Cooper and bird watcher Chris Cooper in New York City's Central Park. If you’re an ally, what can you do? When I posted the video on Twitter, I didn’t yet know about George Floyd, whose killing last Monday by a police officer has prompted protests across the country, but I knew about Emmett Till. NEW YORK, May 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- I want to apologize to Chris Cooper for my actions when I encountered him in Central Park yesterday. Keep asking me what they can do war in Iraq, to never shy fighting... Any of our articles black community `` do n't come close to me '' their inspirational with. 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