Here’s what’s been going down since the world learned about that awful McKinney pool party incident.
• The officer involved in this, Eric Casebolt, is not only a police officer who trains other officers (which is frightening), has been accused of racial profiling before, as The Grio reports. The victim, Albert Earl Brown Jr., sued Casebolt after an incident in 2007, in which Casebolt called Brown a “dope dealer” after viewing him sitting in the car with a white woman. He also told the woman he was making a mistake for being with Brown. Brown also stated that Casebolt made up a story about seeing marijuana seeds in the car and made Brown get out of the car, drop his pants, and proceeded to grope him in public. The case was eventually dropped because, as Brown states, evidence was hard to track while he was in prison on drug charges.
• Hundreds of people protested the pool incident, which offered up these cool images, as posted by MTV (most of the pictures from activist Deray McKesson):
McKinney. Protest. pic.twitter.com/SjRQv71z0w
— deray mckesson (@deray) June 9, 2015
My Parents Told Me. McKinney. pic.twitter.com/4aavpy3ZOx — deray mckesson (@deray) June 9, 2015
Protest. McKinney. pic.twitter.com/TjbyqabNJ8
— deray mckesson (@deray) June 9, 2015
My Kids. McKinney. pic.twitter.com/XVjAUHxoQN — deray mckesson (@deray) June 9, 2015
This pretty much sums things up. #McKinney pic.twitter.com/i52CkU87nk
— Bipartisan Report (@Bipartisanism) June 9, 2015
Bustle posted more Twitter coverage:
One of my favorite pics of the protest march in #McKinney TX tonight. pic.twitter.com/NZElBgKFlp — Rob Webster (@JRobWebster) June 9, 2015
#McKinneyPolice #McKinney protest march pics. @keranews pic.twitter.com/lk5F5mIBkc
— Stella M. Chávez (@stellamchavez) June 9, 2015
A very large crowd has gathered here in the heat. #McKinney pic.twitter.com/7gjXqMStP3 — Rob Webster (@JRobWebster) June 8, 2015
This pretty much sums things up. #McKinney pic.twitter.com/i52CkU87nk
— Bipartisan Report (@Bipartisanism) June 9, 2015
Protesters gathering at Comstock Elementary School. #McKinney pic.twitter.com/9HnmyYuTMh — Rob Webster (@JRobWebster) June 9, 2015
The little girl asked if they wanted to race. The police laughed, said they wouldn’t stand a chance. #McKinney. pic.twitter.com/EZJmdgFVaU
— Rob Webster (@JRobWebster) June 9, 2015
• There have been several feminist and women-centric outlets that have posted articles about the McKinney incident, including The Feminist Wire, Elle.com, and, as already stated above, Bustle. But, I have to say, I’m having some troubles with the inherent lack of discussion feminists are having about Casebolt throwing Dejarria, a 14-year-old girl, to the ground and pinning her there with his knee.
Naturally, there’s tons of aversion towards white feminists and their lack of talk about this issue, since the common thought is that white feminism, as a whole, doesn’t view non-white women as women. Instead, it seems like white feminism, as a whole, views non-white women as demographics or problems to be fixed or Anglicized. As Twitter denizens state:
Notice the white feminist real quiet about what happened in Mckinney. — Ahki (@AhkiDaGR8) June 9, 2015
Still no mainstream feminist outrage over a bikini-clad Black girl being verbally & physically assaulted in #McKinney http://t.co/WaG5nOpjla
— Lisa Biggs, Ph.D. (@LBiggie16) June 9, 2015
Where are all the white feminist at, that should be protesting against the brutality of the cop in McKinney — Jay Jones (@Ameal777) June 9, 2015
Saw a surprisingly progressive post on Facebook this morning asking where is mainstream (read white) Feminist leaders outrage over #McKinney
— ❤Mina_Mosley❤ (@DSTBlaze) June 9, 2015
A little disappointed in the lack of feminist outrage for the events in #McKinney. Shows the gap that exists between black/white feminism. — Jaboo Wins (@jrdnvns) June 9, 2015
Why I’m not a feminist you ask? Well, the feminist is for white woman. Always has been. Where were the feminist fighting for #McKinney ?
— Erika D. (@ErikaBaDoIt) June 9, 2015
1. Not every white feminist has been silent about McKinney. But yes, the “big” names have been. So let them drown in their mainstream. — ang la bux. (@androgynousrap) June 9, 2015
RT @yungmila_: Why don’t I see all you white #feminist on my timeline crying about how that police officer harassed that girl in McKinney?
— ThePushedEnvelope (@BeautyBrains713) June 7, 2015
Waiting on the mainstream (read as white) #feminist outcry over the manhandled 14 y/o girl from #McKinney like … pic.twitter.com/7CtdQQQxZ6 — Young Silent Parker (@silentcrowns) June 9, 2015
White feminists, where y’all at? Does the brutalization of female bodies not concern you when they’re not white? Asking for a race.
— Broderick Greer (@BroderickGreer) June 9, 2015
If your feminism has nothing to say about an adult white man beating a teenage black girl, the it is an anemic feminism.
— Broderick Greer (@BroderickGreer) June 9, 2015
Mother Sojourner Truth was resisting 19th century white feminism when she asked, “Ain’t I a woman?” Sojourner knew.
— Broderick Greer (@BroderickGreer) June 9, 2015
Susan B Anthony, yall favorite lil white feminist CONSCIOUSLY EXCLUDED BLACK LIVES FROM WOMEN’S RIGHTS when she was told “no” by a black man
— famous jet jackson (@femmeminem) June 9, 2015
White feminists being silent on McKinney is the main reason why I consider myself a womanist. Feminism didn’t/doesn’t include/consider us.
— Mrs. Grotke (@__BHB__) June 9, 2015
I could fill this post up with reasons why “white feminism” is seen as having insidious elements in it, but you can read about that in this post.
Thankfully, Twitter created the hashtag #HandsOffDejarria, which gives love for this poor girl and hopes to educate others who, for whatever reason, don’t see what happened to her as a problem.
Even if she wasn’t supposed to be there,it doesn’t mean that a male officer had the right to hit the poor girl! #HandsOffDejarria #McKinney
— Emmie Jo Price ☁ (@EmmieJoPrice) June 9, 2015
Dajarria was ~15’+ away from Casebolt when he sprinted to her & started yanking on her. #mckinney #HandsOffDejarria pic.twitter.com/PxDobdjK1a
— summer (@summersumz) June 9, 2015
I’m still wondering what threat a 14 year old in a bikini posed to Officer Action-Man #McKinney #HandsOffDejarria
— The Professor (@SirVolcy) June 9, 2015
The attackers are as racist, dangerous & disgusting as the officers. Justice means they are held accountable too #HandsOffDejarria #McKinney
— D.L.C.B. (@ToujoursDeva) June 9, 2015
Our children have a right to a peaceful existence. #HandsOffDejarria #McKinney https://t.co/VJmRm1xyjm
— Marlyn (@MomintheBattle) June 9, 2015
Bring sharpie sign w/name of a victim of #PoliceBrutality or #MurderByCop NOON TOMORROW #HandsOffDejarria INFO: http://t.co/pLr53d39Ah
— #LoveStrong (@MykaDean) June 9, 2015
#HandsOffDejarria #CrouchOffDejarria she’s human, doesn’t deserve 2b handled even worst than an animal! #KellyFile pic.twitter.com/6ZtknPiCfi
— Ms. Net (@NETRetired) June 9, 2015
Thankfully, Casebolt has resigned after unrest and urgings from community leaders, protesters, the community itself, and groups like the NAACP. Charges have also been dropped against Adrian Martin, the only person actually arrested from the pool party. However, I’m sure the story is far from over.
What do you think about this news? Give your opinions in the comments section below! Also, if you’ve got more to say, keep the conversation going on Facebook andTwitter.
Still from video taken by Brandon Brooks