Kate Hackett
A viral video on TikTok showed multiple people pulling over to check on a Black woman who had been pulled over by Missouri police.
The recording comes after several years of high-profile police abuse cases culminated in Black Lives Matter protests last summer. It is entirely legal and a constitutional right to tape police officers during their line of duty.
@sheniweird posted the video a few days ago and wrote a caption: “We have to start policing the police until things start making sense. In today’s world, it’s still unfair so here go!”
The video showed that multiple police cars had pulled over a sedan on a Missouri highway.
“When I see a young African American woman screaming for help,” @sheniweird said in both captions and voiceover, “And it’s 3 to 4 White Police with guns drawn on her, and she’s unarmed, you damn right I’m showing up and showing out until I find out what it’s all about.”
“We need answers every time. She deserves the same respect homegrown terrorists got. You’re not just gone shoot her over a traffic violation. Not today.”
As the video goes on, more drivers pulled over to keep tabs on the scene unfolding.
“When I pulled over, everyone pulled over,” said sheniweird.
A white man in a Subaru gave the TikToker the thumbs up, indicating that he was also recording and things were okay.
Missouri has been a state with unrest in regards to racially charged police violence. On August 10 2014, the day after Michael Brown was shot by police officer Darren Wilson, Ferguson Missouri exploded with riots and looting.
Comments on the video included notes that it’s “very sad that we live in a world where this is necessary. But it’s also very positive to see that people are aware enough…to feel that it’s their responsibility to ensure everyone is treated fairly…” by Lesley Nix. Gwendolyn Gallagher noted that it “makes me really happy and depressed at the same time.”
