A story that really stood out to me was the story of Andre Perry, a 32 year old African-American commercial photographer who lives in Brooklyn, New York. Perry was stopped at a subway station by an undercover cop and interrogated about his two-finger ring. Later he was arrested and charged with possession of a deadly weapon. Still, Perry was later given the additional charge of "intent to injure."
The officer informs Perry that he is wearing a weapon, and escorts him to a precinct. The video ends in the officer putting Perry in handcuffs.
"If there was a girl walking through SoHo with the same ring on, she wouldn't have even be stopped—let alone questioned and arrested," says Joshua Kissi, men's style expert and co-founder of New York City-based creative agency Street Etiquette. "It's clear that some people can wear items like Air Jordans and certain jewelry and be considered fashionable and creative, but when people of color do it, it 's dangerous."
"The NYPD has long been plagued by charges of harassment, misconduct and brutality with 'broken windows' policing—exemplified in its controversial Stop and Frisk program—at the center. A 2013 federal class-action lawsuit put the city of New York on trial for unconstitutional and race-based stops."
This incident is a prime example of how law enforcement believes they have the right to stop and arrest someone for the most insignificant reasons. In fact, this violates the Constitution's promise of freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.
Source: http://justice.gawker.com/dangerous-style-how-wearing-the-wrong-jewelry-can-get-1681827809
"If there was a girl walking through SoHo with the same ring on, she wouldn't have even be stopped—let alone questioned and arrested," says Joshua Kissi, men's style expert and co-founder of New York City-based creative agency Street Etiquette. "It's clear that some people can wear items like Air Jordans and certain jewelry and be considered fashionable and creative, but when people of color do it, it 's dangerous."
"The NYPD has long been plagued by charges of harassment, misconduct and brutality with 'broken windows' policing—exemplified in its controversial Stop and Frisk program—at the center. A 2013 federal class-action lawsuit put the city of New York on trial for unconstitutional and race-based stops."
This incident is a prime example of how law enforcement believes they have the right to stop and arrest someone for the most insignificant reasons. In fact, this violates the Constitution's promise of freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.
Source: http://justice.gawker.com/dangerous-style-how-wearing-the-wrong-jewelry-can-get-1681827809