Source: @melodyMcooper / Twitter
A Twitter user named Melody Cooper posted a disturbing clip of a white woman (later revealed as Amy Cooper) in New York City calling the cops on a Black man for recording her in Central Park. His alleged crime was reportedly daring to ask her to leash her dog, per city protocols—and her heinous behavior has backfired epically.
“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,” was the message Melody Cooper posted as a caption to the one minute clip.
In the video, after demanded that she stopped being recorded or else she’ll call l the polics, she clearly says, “I’m going to tell them there’s an African-American man threatening my life,” all while manhandling her dog.
The outrage was immediate, with the potential worst case scenario of a Black man getting abused or killed for a non-crime not being lost (think: Emmett Till as just one example). Many were appalled at the blatant example of violence being inflicted on a Black man due to the lie of a white woman, hence the “Karen” reference.
Twitter quickly found the identity of the culprit, Amy Cooper (no relation to Melody Cooper), and her name has been trending ever since. Ironically, one of the people who initially identified her was her old dog walker.
https://twitter.com/Alphalance/status/1265037306039275521
The fact that so many people seemed to be more concerned about the welfare of the dog than the Black man who is seemingly being accused of a false crime is a matter for another time—but we won’t forget.
But at the moment we’ll note how Cooper’s place of employment was also found, with Twitter encouraging people to let her employer know about her behavior.
Oh yeah, they took back the dog, bruh.
Of course, Twitter also found the Black man, and his name is Christian Cooper—and Amy clearly messed with the wrong guy, a generally upstanding citizen.
Check out more reactions to KKKaren aka Amy Cooper’s deplorable behavior below.
1. Bruh, they already put her one leave.
Amy Cooper has been put on leave pending investigation https://t.co/Ig2CCxYHQU
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) May 26, 2020
2.
White moms, if you are not actively talking to your kids about how to be antiracist, you need to get going.
— Elizabeth C. McLaughlin (@ECMcLaughlin) May 25, 2020
We have always been part of the problem. We have a chance to break that legacy.
I’m horrified by Amy Cooper and all of her ilk. And let’s not forget: hate is taught.
3.
4.
The way Amy Cooper intentionally kicks up her voice during the call to fabricate a sense of danger is terrifying. Imagine this happening in a time when he couldn't easily film. Imagine only that heightened racist voice playing on the news and white viewers fill in the blanks.
— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) May 26, 2020
5.
Amy Cooper said "African American" because racist white women know how to hide behind the appropriate terminology as they weaponize the state when their privilege is challenged.
— Sofia Quintero (@sofiaquintero) May 25, 2020
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7.
Amy Cooper is Head of Franklin Templeton (@FTI_US) Insurance Investment Solutions.
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) May 26, 2020
I wonder how many black reports she has, or has ever had, during the course of her career.
I wonder what lies she’s told about them and how it had affected their lives and careers. https://t.co/eArX7APgPF
8.
I hope Franklin Templeton has a legal or HR team that is willing to work overtime looking into every single interaction Amy Cooper has had with every single person of color in her firm. I would suggest interviews start with the mail room or janitorial and work up to management. https://t.co/ONxxgxdRY5
— Michelle Bhasin (@michellebhasin) May 26, 2020
9.
Amy Cooper sitting in her apartment watching #BlackTwitter crumble her life into pieces pic.twitter.com/EBcpOK5dcB
— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) May 26, 2020
10.
As an 18 year old African American male, white women absolutely terrify me. Like this shit is so traumatizing. The cops don't care about my community service, my GPA, me being an actual fucking human, they just think I'm a dirty nigger that they should kill, fuck you Amy Cooper https://t.co/23RHuk5pCh
— Keion (@Keionisbored) May 25, 2020
11.
Thread: Meet Amy Cooper, a Vice President at Franklin Templeton (@FTI_US/@FTI_Global) who threatened a Black man’s life by calling the cops and telling them “there is an African-American man threatening my life” when all the man did was ask her to leash her dog in Central Park. https://t.co/6Hqlj2Z3iU pic.twitter.com/4QbsLPFc6r
— Resist Programming 🛰 (@RzstProgramming) May 25, 2020
12.
It's pronounced, "Amy Cooper."
— John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) May 26, 2020
The "Karen" is silent.https://t.co/ue8Iz6M9uc
13.
This is violence...as a vvhite woman in 2020 she knows good and fcuking well that there is power in her fake yet convincing cries of danger from a Black man. Amy Cooper is a menace to society and should be prosecuted. Naming and shaming is not enough. https://t.co/CnY9jFCAWV
— BlackWomenViews Media (@blackwomenviews) May 26, 2020
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17.
Dear @NYPDShea,
— Don Winslow (@donwinslow) May 26, 2020
What happened in Central Park today with Amy Cooper is a crime. It should be prosecuted, but equally important is the teachable moment it offers the NYPD, a dept with a horrific history of prosecuting *INNOCENT* black people.
You need to denounce this publicly.
18.
Black Twitter finding all of Amy Cooper’s receipts pic.twitter.com/UQoXhQlhPP
— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) May 26, 2020
19.
Amy Cooper will become a victim by the end of this week.
— Wajahat "Wears a Mask Because of a Pandemic" Ali (@WajahatAli) May 26, 2020
20.
Amy Cooper, the VP of Investment Solutions at Franklin Templeton, needs to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law for falsely accusing an African American man of being violent against her and calling 911. This isn’t about cancel culture. This is about basic accountability.
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) May 26, 2020
21.
All Amy Cooper had to do was to put her dog on a leash and go on about her business but no, she had to stop & put that "uppity black man" in his place by lying & playing the victim.
— And The Tweet Goes On (@lacadri34) May 26, 2020
22.
Reminder: Emmet Till, a fourteen year old boy, was lynched in 1955 because a white woman naked Carolyn Bryant falsely accused him of accosting her.
— Elizabeth C. McLaughlin (@ECMcLaughlin) May 25, 2020
Amy Cooper is Carolyn Bryant’s legacy.
It’s our work to end this. OUR WORK.
23.
Making a false police report is a crime. I prayerfully assume choking your dog is a crime in all states. #AmyCooper and others like her, that try to use the cops as a weapons, should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Disgraceful.
— Rep. Malcolm “Biden/Harris WON” Kenyatta (@malcolmkenyatta) May 26, 2020