San Francisco's 'CAREN Act,' Aims To Outlaw Racially Biased 911 Calls
The author of the bill said it is part of a larger national movement to address the weaponization of emergency resources with racist intentions.
July 09, 2020 at 6:04 pm
San Francisco Karens, beware! Racially motivated or biased phone calls made to 911 could lead to criminal charges.
Supervisor Shamann Walton introduced the CAREN Act on Tuesday at a San Francisco Board of Supervisors meeting, CNN reports. The ordinance’s moniker is short for Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies. It's also a seeming play on the notorious “Karen" archetype, defined by Urban Dictionary as “the stereotypical name associated with rude, obnoxious and insufferable middle aged white women.”
Supervisor Matt Haney, co-author of the bill, said false reports do more harm than good and need to be taken more seriously.