Earlier today, Sheriff Lott of Richland County held a press conference to address the violence that was caught on camera earlier this week. Sheriff Lott’s speech was riddled with victim blaming and instead of holding Officer Fields accountable, Sheriff Lott attempted to absolve him by telling the media that Officer fields “has been dating an African American female.”
Sheriff Lott: Officer in video “has been dating an African American female" for some time https://t.co/I5VNMqiGxU pic.twitter.com/EioxSk4Pl2
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) October 27, 2015
Dating a black person does not mean that you can’t be racist.
https://twitter.com/BreeNewsome/status/659140905660755968
@aurabogado @MSNBC People out there really think that just because you have a black (fill in the blank) you can't be racist. Donald Sterling
— Papa Oso (@OsitosWay215) October 27, 2015
Others share the same line of thought. Similar to the way Rachel Dolezal was relentlessly mocked over the summer with #AskRachel, black Twitter read both Sheriff Lott and Officer Fields.
"@MSNBC: Sheriff Lott: Officer in video “has been dating an African American female" for some time" #SpringValley pic.twitter.com/w9OMSMMjJr
— Daniellé DASH (@DanielleDASH) October 27, 2015
"The officer in the video pats his girlfriend's head for her when it itches" pic.twitter.com/RrWnRhSxgO
— L-Zhi (@LBrothersMedia) October 27, 2015
"Officer fields attended an HBCU, and identifies as Black". pic.twitter.com/gahhqQF3Hq
— Kwame Rose (@kwamerose) October 27, 2015
Sheriff Lott: "It was Officer Fields that coined the phrase, Bye Felicia"
— 🎨 🖌🖍ArtsySneakerGeek (@BamaIntrovert) October 27, 2015
"Here we have footage of Fields doing the Nae Nae with some inner city youth" pic.twitter.com/HyEyhbdjZ9
— Openly Black Studs Twerkel. (@thewayoftheid) October 27, 2015
"Ofc Fields is a huge, HUGE fan of The Wire." https://t.co/ywmlWgeAva
— Lesley Nneka Arimah (@larimah) October 27, 2015
Officer #BenFields IS A WORLD-RENOWNED GARDENER known for growing prize-winning watermelons https://t.co/r4EC8tquDW
— Liza Sabater 🇵🇷👸🏾🌹 (@blogdiva) October 27, 2015
Sheriff Lott: “It’s my understanding that Officer Fields was actually ready to fuck up some commas at Popeye’s." pic.twitter.com/FNdLPIn1dI
— Rusty Redenbacher (@rustymk2) October 27, 2015
Sherriff Lot: "Officer Ben Fields can spot two books and a possible in a game of spades"
— Tiktok/Insta AngelCarterActs (@MyHandsRatedE) October 27, 2015
https://twitter.com/BeRusTerr/status/659133983154937856
Sheriff Lott: Officer in video "has twerk to Cash Money taking over for the 99" for some time now https://t.co/9tmuieREZr
— Historically Openly Black Sky Daddy Chronic Ejac🥋 (@Black_Ted_Mosby) October 27, 2015
https://twitter.com/Bro_Pair/status/659129460919279616
Sheriff Lott about to leak photos of Officier Ben Fields twostepping in an all white outfit at Essencefest
— Desus Nice (@desusnice) October 27, 2015
https://twitter.com/Cybersoulja/status/659118197820358656
OFFICER #BenFields SUPPORTS THE NEGRO COMMUNITY and is known to be an avid collector of black soap https://t.co/r4EC8tquDW
— Liza Sabater 🇵🇷👸🏾🌹 (@blogdiva) October 27, 2015
https://twitter.com/radicalhearts/status/659133590953971712
https://twitter.com/tyriquex/status/659126480375382016
Sheriff Lott: "Officer Ben Fields claps on 2 and 4." https://t.co/Bcpagik6X5
— Micah Still @ Home (@LetMicahDown) October 27, 2015
Sheriff Lott: Officer fields has a picture of Black Jesus and uses Black Santa decorations.
— KRYSTLE (@AKASeKretS43) October 27, 2015
https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/659134361577500672
"Officer Fields knows why the caged bird sings, is happy for the Jeffersons for moving on up & knows why doves cry." pic.twitter.com/rPNbKKOxve
— lauren w. (@iamlaurenp) October 27, 2015
Officer Fields knows the Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme song and agrees that yes, first Aunt Viv is undefeated. https://t.co/603oKvAz9e
— Brown Butter Evangelist (@krysilove) October 27, 2015
https://twitter.com/ChrisWilds1/status/659139330196295680
"Officer Fields says he would've assisted R. Kelly when he was trapped in the closet for 33 chapters." pic.twitter.com/UyArR1JdEw
— lauren w. (@iamlaurenp) October 27, 2015