EarlOfRochester

Here's an example of how racist policing reinforces trauma because police are responding to things like overdoses and things where an ambulance is needed.

I ordered Dominos tonight because I was like "fuck it, I'm not cooking." I was downstairs waiting for my delivery, chatting with my neighbor who was out for a smoke, when this black family comes up the alley and starts yelling in one of the open windows.

They get up the front door and I ask what's happening, and they can't reach her brother (the other two are her partner and daughter). He had threatened overdose and then disappeared. I let them in and take them to his apartment, which they start banging on.

Nothing. Not a whisper from the other side. So I ask, do you want me to call for an ambulance (considering I know the exact address and am a resident). I explain the situation, specifically state that we need paramedics because what we know is he took X drugs.

I go outside to wait because I can let people into the building. Who shows up first? The fucking cops. And I'm like, oh shit. I have a black family in distress, and now the COPS are the ones responding.

So I follow them to make sure nothing is happening that will result in either the man in the apartment or this family dying. My witness, as a white woman, is important here. One of the cops goes to kick the door in, and the other cop looks at me & goes, "No, we need permission."