New York woman ‘sorry’ as racism flares in dog row
A WHITE woman who called police after an African-american man asked her to leash her dog in New York’s Central Park has apologised after footage of the fracas went viral.
Amy Cooper was seen pulling out her phone while Christian Cooper was filming, warning him that she was calling the cops as the stand-off escalated.
“I’m going to tell them there’s an African-american man threatening my life,” Ms Cooper is seen saying while dialling. She then repeats to the operator: “He’s African-american.”
The one-minute video was posted on Twitter on Monday and had been viewed more than 24millions times by yesterday morning.
Ms Cooper had been walking with her dog off the leash in the Ramble – a semi-wild part of Central Park known for its birds – ignoring signs that urge dog owners not to do this.
The video also saw Ms Cooper, who was wearing a mask, approach Mr Cooper as he filmed despite the requirement to socially distance during the pandemic.
Commenting on the footage, Bill de
Blasio, the New York city mayor, said: “The video out of Central Park is racism, plain and simple.
“She called the police because he was a black man. Even though she was the one breaking the rules. She decided he was the criminal and we know why.”
The backlash saw Ms Cooper, who is not related to Mr Cooper, placed on leave by her employer, Franklin Templeton, an investment management company.
Ms Cooper also handed back the dog, Henry, which she was seen yanking on the video, to the rescue group she got it from years earlier, according to a Facebook post from the shelter.
Ms Cooper later told NBC News: “I sincerely apologise to everyone, especially to that man, his family.
“It was unacceptable and I humbly and fully apologise to everyone who’s seen that video, everyone that’s been offended … everyone who thinks of me in a lower light and I understand why they do.”
A spokesman for the New York Police Department said: “Upon arrival, police determined two individuals had engaged in a verbal dispute.”
No arrest was made.