On Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors member Shamann Walton introduced a “Caren Act” which aims to stop racist 911 calls against colored people. Unfortunately, the term Walton had used is in fact, considered as “racist.”

The municipal legislation stands for the acronym “Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies.” Walton said that the surge of racist 911 calls across the country had become even more alarming. However, the term “Karen” had been frequently used against white women. According to the Urban Dictionary, the term refers to “[t]he stereotypical name associated with rude, obnoxious and insufferable middle-aged white women.”

In a report from LMBC, the legislation will make it illegal for people to call the authorities on incidents that discriminate against a person’s “race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity, and other protected classes.” Walton warned that anyone who violates the Caren act should be held accountable and face civil remedies for their actions.

The member of the Board of Supervisor argued that such calls will only take away responding officers to legitimate calls of actual emergencies. Walton reminded that the Caren Act should not prevent people from calling “actual emergencies in good faith”, rather, their goal is to prevent and protect people of color against racist remarks.

In fact, people who make fraudulent calls will be sued and fined for damages for up to $1,000. During the discussion, Walton also cited several racist incidents that include such calls.

He recounted that a woman who was nicknamed “Barbeque Becky,” called the police over allegations of “trespassing” after a group of black people were using a charcoal grill in Oakland California. The irate woman claimed that the people were violating rules, despite the fact that the area was designated as a “BBQ zone.”

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Walton also cited the incident of “Permit Patty” after a derailed woman lashed out against a girl who was selling bottle waters outside of her office. The incident had garnered so much media attention that the women resigned as the CEO of a cannabis company.

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Walton also recounted incidents within the city, citing that within the last month, San Francisco received numerous racist calls. He claimed that an individual called on an African-American man who was simply dancing and exercising on the street. The Board of Supervisor member also added another incident, this time it was a Filipino man who wrote “Black Lives Matter” in front of his own home.

Finally, Walton mentioned George Floyd who was killed in Minneapolis after Officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for eight straight minutes.