Hickory, North Carolina should fire the police officers stationed at 3rd and Tryon Street, at 1:30 AM, Wednesday, September 5th, 2012.
I left the CNN Grill at about 1:05 AM, and walked in search of a cab. From memory, I walked out and immediately turned left, and walked a good three blocks down that street next to the site of the CNN grill. I walked in to one eatery just to say “hello” to a new friend and her entourage, then walked out, turning left again and walking up hill and up the street.
At anout 3rd and Tryon, I asked a group of police officers standing – three forward most (one of them brunette female and white) where I can catch a cab. She pointed to a place on Tryon about 70 feet away and to my left.
I walked over there, and upon my arrival encountered an older-looking black man with dredlocks and a white t-shirt. He informed me, without my asking, that he was standing there for 2 hours.
So, I walked back to the officers and said “Hey that’s a two hour wait, if at all. Isnt’ there a hotel I can stand at?” The woman said that I could, or call 740- and some numbers I did not know. I explained that my cell phone was dead.
So this bald white police officer (male) moved forward with his arms crossed and said “Well, what do you want us to do?”
Seriously!
I said that I wanted them to call the number. That bald white police officer, and his working friend (who was about 6-5, clean shaven, white, kind of a “jar-head” look, no glasses, wide eyes) said “Well do you want us to call him.”
“Yes,” was my response, “that would be the logical thing to do.”
Then, the 6-5 friend said “We won’t do that. We’re working,” and the bald headed guy said “No.” Normally, any right-thinking person would be happy to call; not these guys. I said “Are you kidding me?”
“You have an attitude,” the 6-5 guy says. I said I’m just trying to get back to my hotel, and I don’t have a way to get there, and no means to call a cab.
As I walked someone of the officers said “Good luck.” I walked about 8 feet, and heard one of them laugh. So I turned around, walked back to her and the group. I said to the 6-5 guy “What’s your name?” He said that it was on his badge. I asked for his full name. He said – or I thought he said “Mark” – but not his street. I then said I was calling the Mayor of Charlotte, and walked away.
I looked for another set of officers to complain about the first group there near convention center. They were down a block – I think either 4th or 2nd. They, also as it happens, were from Hickory, NC – they did help me after I complained about what happened. They found a cab for me.
But no one at the Democratic National Convention should have to go through what I went through. That was awful. I don’t care what the reason was – racism, or whatever – I just want the police officers stationed at 3rd and Tryon Street last night off the street and away from DNC 2012 attendees.
Stay tuned.