A San Francisco lawmaker has introduced an ordinance that would make it illegal to make a racially-biased 911 call within the city limits.
According to KPIX-TV in San Francisco and The Los Angeles Times, San Francisco City Supervisor Shamann Walton introduced the "Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies (CAREN) Act" on Tuesday.
The CAREN acronym is a play on the name "Karen" — the name social media users often label those who make racially-based 911 calls in viral videos.
In a statement to NBC, Walton said that the act would "make it unlawful for an individual to contact law enforcement solely to discriminate on the basis of a person's race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity."
The proposed legislation is similar to a bill currently making its way through the California State Assembly. That bill, AB 1550, was introduced by Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Oakland).
"Using 911 as a tool for your prejudice towards marginalized communities is unjust and wrong!" Bonta tweeted earlier this week.
Excited to announce our partnership with Supervisor @shamannwalton ! Today, we unveiled our two-prong strategy to join forces and stop discriminatory 911 calls: #AB1550 and the #CARENAct. Using 911 as a tool for your prejudice towards marginalized communities is unjust and wrong! pic.twitter.com/NBfBaLe6x2
— Rob Bonta (@RobBontaCA) July 7, 2020
In June, a man's recording of a white couple calling the police on him for chalking the words "Black Lives Matter" on his rented home went viral. The couple later issued an apology.
In May, a white woman called police on a Black man who was birdwatching in Central Park after he asked that she put a leash on her dog. That woman was charged with false reporting earlier this week.
