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Police called to check out ‘suspicious’ ethnic minority journalists | |
(5 days later) | |
Police were called to investigate a report of “suspicious-looking” people near a school - and were met by two journalists, both of ethnic minorities. | Police were called to investigate a report of “suspicious-looking” people near a school - and were met by two journalists, both of ethnic minorities. |
Two staffers for NBC5 were reporting a story near a school in Plano, Texas, when they were approached by police due to a report of an “Hispanic-looking woman and black man with suspicious white truck and camera”. | Two staffers for NBC5 were reporting a story near a school in Plano, Texas, when they were approached by police due to a report of an “Hispanic-looking woman and black man with suspicious white truck and camera”. |
Reporter Homa Bash is of Indian descent and photographer C J Johnson is black. | Reporter Homa Bash is of Indian descent and photographer C J Johnson is black. |
Ms Bash, who joined the company from Cleveland last month, tweeted about the incident and it was re-tweeted more than 63,000 times and liked more than 125,000 times. | Ms Bash, who joined the company from Cleveland last month, tweeted about the incident and it was re-tweeted more than 63,000 times and liked more than 125,000 times. |
It struck a nerve in a country that is grappling with racial tensions. | It struck a nerve in a country that is grappling with racial tensions. |
One user replied: “If you see something and you’re a racist, say something racist.” | One user replied: “If you see something and you’re a racist, say something racist.” |
The police officer who responded to the call, Laurie Hunter, recognised the journalists were not a threat, said Plano police spokesman David Tilley. | The police officer who responded to the call, Laurie Hunter, recognised the journalists were not a threat, said Plano police spokesman David Tilley. |
He said that he did not know whether the caller had cited the colour of their skin as a reason for why they were seen to be “suspicious”, or whether it was due to their camera equipment near a school. | He said that he did not know whether the caller had cited the colour of their skin as a reason for why they were seen to be “suspicious”, or whether it was due to their camera equipment near a school. |
Police have been called on a white television reporter before, he added. | Police have been called on a white television reporter before, he added. |
They were allowed to continue reporting their story about a proposal to ban dogs from student campuses in the city. | They were allowed to continue reporting their story about a proposal to ban dogs from student campuses in the city. |
Ms Bash tweeted again that the police officer was "cool" for letting them get on with their work. | Ms Bash tweeted again that the police officer was "cool" for letting them get on with their work. |
NBC5 said in a statement that "the police officer and our crew were doing their jobs. Everyone acted professionally." | NBC5 said in a statement that "the police officer and our crew were doing their jobs. Everyone acted professionally." |
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