'They don't belong': police called on Native American teens on college tour
Source: The Guardian
A mother on the tour told authorities the young men were creepy and really stand out, causing them to miss the rest of the event.
A mother on a Colorado college tour called the police on two Native American students in the group because they looked like they dont belong, in the latest episode to ignite outrage over racial profiling and needless calls to law enforcement in the US. Two teenage brothers had traveled from New Mexico for the tour at Colorado State University (CSU) on Monday when a parent called the authorities on them, saying they were quiet and creepy and really stand out. The call prompted university police to question them, causing the young men to miss the rest of the tour, campus officials said.
They were shocked. They were trying to figure out what they did wrong, said Lorraine Kahneratokwas Gray, whose sons Kanewakeron Thomas Gray, 19, and Skanahwati Lloyd Gray, 17, were on the tour. Video released by police showed the officers pulling them aside and asking them what was in their pockets while commanding them to keep their hands out.
The incident, which prompted an apology from the university...
The 911 caller, who has not been named, told a dispatcher that the students behavior is just really odd, according to audio released on Friday. Theyre definitely not a part of the tour.
The woman further said the black clothing they were wearing was suspicious, that they appeared to be Hispanic and that one was from Mexico. She later added: They just really stand out
Theyre just creepy kids
It actually made me feel sick. The mother, who left the tour to call police, said another man on the tour also believed they dont belong.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/may/04/native-american-students-colorado-state-college-tour-police
This ignorance and racism has no place in America or this planet.
Laffy Kat
(16,356 posts)If it was CU/Boulder, it figures.
Beartracks
(12,761 posts)Laffy Kat
(16,356 posts)CU/Boulder has a reputation for being something of a red-neck, heavy drinking university. CSU has always seemed a little more diverse, so this surprises me a little. Of course, there are racists/classist everywhere.
vicman
(478 posts)I was there one time with a Latina friend and, as we were leaving, I asked her, "What did you think about Boulder?" She replied, "Well... it's... um... very white." I had to laugh because I realized that she totally nailed it! LOL
Kotya
(235 posts)Boulder has often been called the "Berkeley of the Rockies" or, disparagingly, the "People's Republic of Boulder" and has a long history of being a liberal sanctuary.
Fort Collins, by contrast, hosts many students who plan futures in the farming and ranching industries attending CSU's acclaimed veterinary medicine and agriculture programs. This is where you'll find the rednecks.
They're both party schools and very white.
SkyDaddy7
(6,045 posts)Boulder, Co. May be white but its one of the most Liberal places in the country!
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Maybe read the article?
Laffy Kat
(16,356 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)I love Boulder!
Laffy Kat
(16,356 posts)They give the school and town a bad name. I take it you attended Oberlin?
oberliner
(58,724 posts)It was quite an experience.
Laffy Kat
(16,356 posts)Cha
(295,915 posts)CSU.. I was born and raised in Denver.
MrScorpio
(73,626 posts)Industrial strength all the way.
safeinOhio
(32,531 posts)Arrest them for false police report.
SWBTATTReg
(21,859 posts)You get enough of these false reports and the police and district attorneys will have to do something, e.g., filing false reports, start cracking down on.
Maybe doing a few times police doing something about it will put a stop to it. I kind of doubt it.
Where in the heck does the lady who called the cops come from? Surely they have different ethics groups in her area, just about everywhere does. No, she had to do something about these two young men and so she did. What are the chances that something wasn't right about these two? Probably 1 in a billion.
She ruined what should have been a nice trip for these two young men, going possibly to college there. I bet she didn't even apologize or the like. I hope the two young men do something for being stopped w/o a true cause, against the police dept and the lady who called.
There is already enough going on in this world for some stupid lady to look at someone in a tour of a college and decide that something was wrong about them. Falsely.
NutmegYankee
(16,177 posts)madaboutharry
(40,152 posts)They werent obligated to answer. Who does this woman think gave her the right to question anyone?
dalton99a
(81,068 posts)"Were you part of a caravan?"
Lulu KC
(2,547 posts)Creepy?
Quiet?
Wearing black clothes?
She needs to have consequences and BTW what are the police doing even responding to this.
This makes me sick.
marble falls
(56,358 posts)too, as a teen.
But nobody called the cops.
ProfessorGAC
(64,425 posts)More than half were either metal heads, pierced punks, or goth. They ALL wore black, and then 50% of the other half wore black all the time, but that was more just what they felt like wearing than a statement.
If i called the cops every time a kid showed up dressed all in black, i'd hardly have ever given a lesson.
On top of that, they all came over with "suspicious looking" cases, or black vinyl bags. I'm surprised the neighbors didn't think Fight Club was going on next door!
marble falls
(56,358 posts)are always up to something and they deny it. Usually more annoying than illegal.
I think our neighbors HOPED fight club was the worst of it. Mr Heaton got tired of his two sons fighting in the family room and put a regulation ring in their three car garage which became the hangout. Both Mark and Jeff became good golden glove boxers but they both became 'huffers' and never became "contenders".
Have some sad stories about them and I think they're both dead by the time they were 35. I've tried to follow up on most of the guys that hung together back then and a lot of them are 'gone'. The first big wave of the draft in '68 and '69 got some. Life got a bunch more. Out of a core of about twenty I don't think ten are walking free.
ProfessorGAC
(64,425 posts)That's a pretty depressing story, Marble.
I was a little too young for the draft. They quit taking anybody (even though the draft was still in place) about 10 months before i turned 18 and the draft went bye-bye less than a year after i was 18.
But, as a younger kid (we moved to a bigger house when my aunt and uncle died and the family went from 2 to 5 kids overnight) i lived next door to a young woman who was engaged to a real nice guy that got drafted. (I as probably 11 when he was 19.) He came home basically a vegetable because of a land mine.
Pretty sad stuff.
marble falls
(56,358 posts)passed too early this last January by soberly falling down his front steps - one of the nicest people one could ever meet. Mark Price from Tin Huey to cancer - one of the nicest people you'd ever hope to meet, several players from Devo - the same.
Three died as a result of Viet Nam. Including one that got sent because the guy in the next bunk was sent to the hospital and they all moved one bunk down and he went from the safe side of the line to the bad side of it the next day, literally got on a plane and after a stop in Hawaii went to Viet Nam. Had my first beer cruising in his blue Corvair Monza.
Some of it was pure gobsmacked why him and not someone more ... suitable. Sad passings but life happens. Out of eight kids all my brothers and sisters are still alive and healthy. Non of us have anything but good kids and wonderful grandchildren. My parents lived long and well and my step parents are doing well.
Howdy Campbell asked me why I wouldn't smoke or swear, I told him I was going to be a minister. Howdy told me. "we don't need no preacher, we need a lawyer!", when we were 13 or 14 and working on a truck farm in Akron, Ohio in '63 or '64.
I always thought Howdy had moxy and made it.
Terry Eastwood and I got into a dust off in wood shop, he bumped me when he was too close to the lockers and I knocked him back off-balance into the lockers and wailed into him. The shop teacher said he had to stop it to protect me, I told him I was doing pretty well on my own. He dropped out with in a year and about twenty years later I read about him in papers. He had robbed a couple of drugstores on Market St and ended up at a bad motel. The police figured out where he was staying and knocked on the door. Terry stayed quiet and the cop walked away, Terry figuring the cop was calling in SWAT, shot himself.
Terry was always kind of sad story for me, but also a cautionary tale, too.
All in all, life may have been hell on folks all around me, my life has been eventful but pretty darn good.
turbinetree
(24,632 posts)I just wonder how this person would think if Mr's Gray had been the one to call out this mothers kids and see and feel what being a racist is all about, no common sense, maybe she would think twice, but I doubt it all she can do is see through those white eyes.
Maybe she read about the history of Fort Collins, Colorado and the Manifest Destiny:
https://www.americanindiancoc.org/native-american-tribes-the-indian-history-in-fort-collins-colorado/
And as a side note I went to a lot of great concerts in the Fort Collins
Kotya
(235 posts)It was a great show. Gwen Stefani couldn't have been more than 25.
turbinetree
(24,632 posts)I always said when you looked up into the sky, in the west it was always bluer in color
mainer
(12,013 posts)Video: I thought the campus cops did a good job. They were friendly and a little sheepish about the whole thing.
Audio: Jesus H Christ. "They definitely didn't belong." What makes her think they didn't belong? The color of their skin? Apparently she thought they were Hispanic, so of course they didn't belong in HER world.
RhodeIslandOne
(5,042 posts)Unfortunately these institutions have to cover their ass IF something was about to go down and no one responded....you can bet the right wing snowflakes would make up all sorts of stories for their next cause.
mainer
(12,013 posts)They were right on top of it, are using it as a teaching exercise, and were immediately up front about the incident. This has to make them feel awful.
cannabis_flower
(3,764 posts)Is stopped occasionally. He was at the bus station in Victoria,Texas once and someone called the police on him because they thought he was an illegal alien. He is from Honduras, is dark and his English isn't real good. He showed the police his Texas state ID and his work permit and he was fine.
Twice, when we had just moved into a condo in Houston, he was stopped on his bicycle, frisked and asked if he had any tattoos and if he was in a gang. They also wanted to know where he was going. One of the time they wanted to know what he was doing there at 5am, he told them he was going to work. The other time he was on his way home and he told them that. They followed him home and watched him open the door with a key. After the second time I guess they recognize him because he hasn't said anything else.
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)In an article in the Albuquerque paper the woman is quoted saying "One is definitely Mexican".
yardwork
(61,418 posts)I hope she is publicly shamed.
Timmygoat
(779 posts)But I guess I always thought that native Americans were the real first Americans.
And actually people like Trump came from an immigrant family.
appalachiablue
(41,053 posts)should have notified those in charge about this woman- a meddlesome, interfering and ignorant racist! Jeesh.
Kashkakat v.2.0
(1,752 posts)someone not liking the way someone else looks??????????????????
At least the starbucks cops, as messed up as that debacle was, were responding to what they were told was an actual crime (loitering, tresspassing) so they had some plausible reason to be there.
cab67
(2,963 posts)It's their policy to respond to calls like this. Many universities (including mine) have similar policies; there have been cases where a call was written off as "crying wolf" or whatnot and it wasn't. It's a matter of liability.
As far as I can tell, CSU is handling this as well as they can. The woman who called the police bears all of the responsibility, and she should be publicly shamed.
Kashkakat v.2.0
(1,752 posts)the way someone looks makes you "feel sick."
Did she state the nature of the so called "emergency"? If she were to call non-emergency line - ok. Stupid but OK. Call 911 - not OK.
cab67
(2,963 posts)joshcryer
(62,265 posts)It's obvious these young men were nervous and didn't know wtf was going on but as soon as the cop had a verified email from the kid going on the prospect tour he let them go no questions asked. It's not illegal to go to a college and join a tour group.
What's bonkers is the audio from the 911 call from the psycho who thought those two young men were scary bad guys: https://safety.colostate.edu/
Equinox Moon
(6,344 posts)TALK WITH THE BOYS!
That woman could have just struck-up a conversation and her unwarranted fears would have dissolved.
Just talk with them yourself!
LisaL
(44,962 posts)Or weren't responding to her questions. That's what she says in her 911 call.
How about minding your own business as an option. They are not obligated to talk to her.
"The woman claimed that the teens werent answering her questions about why they were there and were lying the whole time."
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/may/04/native-american-students-colorado-state-college-tour-police
Equinox Moon
(6,344 posts)In so many ways that makes this worse.
I agree with the comments in this thread that the heat should be on her.
LisaL
(44,962 posts)the same time. And why would she think they were lying in response to her considering she didn't know them, so how would she know what would be the accurate answer.
Equinox Moon
(6,344 posts)She needs to stop watching faux!
heaven05
(18,124 posts)Last edited Sat May 5, 2018, 11:58 AM - Edit history (1)
of ameriKKKa these days. This potus really has emboldened and ignited long suppressed racial hatred(s) among Caucasians. Jeez.... The First Americans "really stand out". This society has held together in these last 50 years primarily because people were learning to accept our rich diversity. Now?
Equinox Moon
(6,344 posts)People are empowered by current political persons to do this crap.
dalton99a
(81,068 posts)"They don't belong, and you need to make them disappear... (It's ok if you shoot them or something)... "
Corgigal
(9,291 posts)For making crazy white people little lizard brain area thinking to be ok again. Throwing away thousands of years of the enlightenment.
I hope the student of the "parent" , sets them right.
tblue37
(64,980 posts)Haggis for Breakfast
(6,831 posts)Who died and put you in charge ?
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,485 posts)An excellent film set in the early 1890's.
Not all Native Americans were hostile to whites. After all, whose country was this before the White settlers began taking it away in the 17th century bit by bit?
It seems we are conveniently forgetting our American History that perpetuates the attitudes still festering today for over 400 years.
dobleremolque
(479 posts)is the offspring this racist woman was accompanying on the tour. Her precious little snowflake will probably not do well outside Mom's parental helicopter downwash.
Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)This helicopter mother has shown that she'll likely be a pain in admin's ass for the next four years.
Every little thing would have mommy on the phone demanding to speak to admin, every "C" would have her screaming at the dean to "talk" to the instructor.
CSU would be saving themselves a lot of hassle if they quietly sent the kid's app to the circular file.
Jedi Guy
(3,171 posts)I don't think that's just or fair. The woman's kid has control of his/her own actions and no control of hers. Let's not start punishing people for the acts of their family. My parents are hardcore conservatives. Should I be punished if they do or say something you don't like?
Cryptoad
(8,254 posts)MustLoveBeagles
(11,563 posts)That women is an idiot. I think she's the one who is creepy and suspicious. Those poor kids.
Equinox Moon
(6,344 posts)MustLoveBeagles
(11,563 posts)So many now feel comfortable showing their ugliness.
exboyfil
(17,857 posts)They would have looked normal they were open carrying AR15s.
And if they bleached their skin.
raven mad
(4,940 posts)Well deserved.
Thomas Hurt
(13,903 posts)BarbaRosa
(2,684 posts)has given these racists license to pull this crap off.
Devil Child
(2,728 posts)Reading the article and listening to audio of the caller, this is way beyond "good faith" reporting to police. Calling police on POC for having the nerve to exist in white spaces reminds me of deliberate false reports to 911 to bring out SWAT team on unsuspecting innocents.
Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)Can't take a tour without your parents then you're not grown up enough to attend college.
Jedi Guy
(3,171 posts)It seems to me they ought to have some knowledge of what they're shelling out thousands of dollars for. I don't think it's unreasonable that they be allowed to tour the campus. Your assertion seems like a huge overreaction to a single incident of idiocy by this woman.
beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)mahatmakanejeeves
(56,897 posts)Retweeted by LoomingCrisisHat: https://twitter.com/Popehat/
Just in case you/anyone reading wants to listen to the call or see the full transcript. It's a lot worse than most headlines are portraying
Link to tweet
Coloradoan staff Published 4:50 p.m. MT May 4, 2018 | Updated 5:28 p.m. MT May 4, 2018
This is an abridged transcript of the call to Colorado State University police regarding the presence of two teenagers on a campus tour who were viewed with suspicion:
Dispatch: CSU police, this is Ginger.
Caller: Hi ... I am with my son doing a campus tour ... There are two young men that joined our tour that weren't a part of our tour. They're not, definitely not a part of the tour. And their behavior is just really odd, and I've never called, ever, about anybody, but they joined our tour. They won't give their names and when I asked them what they were wanting to study, like everything they're saying isn't ... they were lying the whole time. And they're just wearing like very ... they just really stand out. ... Like their clothing has dark stuff on it, like dark things.
Dispatch: Their clothing what?
Caller: Just, uh, kind of just weird symbolism or wording on it, and one of them has their left hand in his oversize sweatshirt the whole time.
Dispatch: Are you guys still out with them now?
Caller: Well, I'm not. I stepped out. They're in the Lory Student Center.
(Dispatcher and caller talk about the pair's location information)
Caller: It's probably nothing. I'm probably being completely paranoid with just everything that's happened ...
{snip}
Which probably refers to this, from last October:
Fort Collins police confirm 3 dead, 1 injured in shooting near Colorado State University
Vinca
(50,170 posts)TomCADem
(17,378 posts)While CSU is at it, they should reject the admission of the racist family that reported them to the police.
Link to tweet
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,483 posts)From CSU President: Message from President Frank Re Admissions Tour Incident
Link: https://safety.colostate.edu/
and, Raw Story: Colorado State president tells racists to pick another school in an epic apology for racist incident on admissions tour
Link: https://www.rawstory.com/2018/05/colorado-state-president-tells-racists-pick-another-school-epic-apology-racist-incident-admissions-tour/
-----------
......
Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)Trump would have tweeted at least twice about this, Republicans would be demanding the DOJ investigate and Betsy DeVos would be on her way to New Mexico for a photo op with the boys.
That's after the cops personally escorted the boys back to the tour and lectured the mother on making bogus calls.
cntrfthrs
(252 posts)that you're ALL illegals.....and we're told to 'get over it' because 'I didn't do anything to you indian people'....
dreamland
(964 posts)Also not pull from the group for questioning? She should've had a talking to after the verification by these kids.
LisaL
(44,962 posts)dreamland
(964 posts)So two kids gets the scare of their life being pulled out by officers while this caller gets her racism justified. This makes me so angry.
MustLoveBeagles
(11,563 posts)She torpedoed her own kid's chances for getting into the school by pulling this stunt. And the university has rolled out the red carpet to these boys and declared they have zero tolerance for bigotry.The campus police didn't know this women was full of shit until they talked to the boys. I think she should be charged for making a false complaint.
ck4829
(34,977 posts)magicarpet
(13,941 posts).... call Homeland Security - this is a code red def con level six. You better bring the swat team with 50 caliber automatic weapons.
ProfessorGAC
(64,425 posts)In case they're far better armed than we think they "probably" are.