In the wake of numerous instances of white people making nonemergency and racially motivated 911 calls against Black people, a San Francisco lawmaker on Tuesday proposed a new law that would outlaw such calls. Introduced by city supervisor Shamann Walton, the ordinance is cheekily known as the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies Act, or, the CAREN Act for short.

The proposed law gets its name from the phrase “Karen,” a nickname popular on social media for white women who behave in racist or generally officious ways.

“Racist 911 calls are unacceptable that's why I'm introducing the CAREN Act at today's SF Board of Supervisors meeting,” Walton announced in a tweet. “This is the CAREN we need.”

Walton’s proposal follows a number of other bills with similar intentions. These include a bill submitted by Oakland Assemblyman Rob Banta, as well as others proposed in State Senates in New York, Oregon and Washington.

“Using 911 as a tool for your prejudice towards marginalized communities is unjust and wrong!” Assemblyman Bonta tweeted.

While stories of such incidents have become widespread in recent years, the trend received huge media exposure in late May after the “Central Park Karen” incident. Amy Cooper, a white woman, called the police on a black birdwatcher in Central Park after he asked her to properly leash her dog. The clip of Cooper lashing out at the man went viral online and eventually led to her getting fired from her job.

More recently, another white woman called 911 on a black family for using a pool at a hotel where they had a room booked.

husband of California Karen fired from his job as video of him and his wife confronting a Filipino man gained viral status
husband of California Karen fired from his job as video of him and his wife confronting a Filipino man gained viral status Betty Martin - Pixabay
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