VIDEO: White Woman Calls Police On Black Man Birdwatching In New York City's Central Park

KEY POINTS

Amy Cooper was walking her dog through Central Park when she got into a verbal altercation with Christian Cooper, who was in the park to birdwatch
Christian Cooper said he asked Amy Cooper to leash her dog after she took it off in a part of the park requiring dogs be leashed, and she responded by calling police
Amy Cooper returned the dog to a shelter, has been placed on leave from work and issued an apology to Christian Cooper

A white New York City woman issued a public apology Tuesday after a video emerged on Twitter of her calling police on a black man who was birdwatching in Central Park.

As of Tuesday morning, the video had nearly 25 million views.

Oh, when Karens take a walk with their dogs off leash in the famous Bramble in NY’s Central Park, where it is clearly posted on signs that dogs MUST be leashed at all times, and someone like my brother (an avid birder) politely asks her to put her dog on the leash. pic.twitter.com/3YnzuATsDm
— Melody Cooper (@melodyMcooper) May 25, 2020

“It was unacceptable. And words are just words and I can’t undo what I did,” the woman, identified as Amy Cooper, told New York City NBC-affiliate, WNBC. “But I sincerely and humbly apologize to everyone, especially to that man and his family.”

In a follow-up with CNN, Cooper said she acted out of fear because of the area of Central Park she was in. She made it clear, though, her actions were still inexcusable.

“I think I was just scared,” she said. “When you're alone in the Ramble, you don't know what's happening. It's not excusable, it's not defensible.”

The incident took place around 8 a.m. on Monday while Cooper was walking her dog through Central Park. The man, identified as Christian Cooper (no relation), was reportedly birdwatching in the Ramble when Amy Cooper passed through with her dog and took it off the leash despite signage saying a leash was required. Christian Cooper said he asked her to put the leash back on her dog, but she refused. He offered the dog a treat and began recording her when she became confrontational.

“The only way they can keep the dog from eating the treat is to put it on a leash,” Christian Cooper told WNBC. “At some point, she decided, ‘I’m gonna play the race card,’ I guess.”

Christian Cooper left the scene before police arrived and shared the video with his sister, Melody Cooper, who posted it on Twitter. No summons or arrest warrants were issued.

In the aftermath, Amy Cooper returned the dog to the Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue.

“As of this evening, the owner has voluntarily surrendered the dog in question to our rescue while this matter is being addressed,” the shelter said in a statement. “The dog is now in our rescue’s care and he is safe and in good health.”

The incident also could cost Amy Cooper her job.

“We take these matters very seriously, and we do not condone racism of any kind,” Franklin Templeton Investments said in a statement. “While we are in the process of investigating the situation, the employee involved has been put on administrative leave.”