Caren Act targets racially charged calls to 911 in S. F.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed the Caren Act Tuesday — a new law that makes it illegal for someone to call 911 with a false, racially charged complaint.

The name of the law — Caution Against Racially and Exploitative Non-Emergencies — is a play on the internet meme of “Karens,” which represent entitled white women complaining about people of color. The law, which must pass a second vote next week, would allow people to sue the 911 caller in civil court if they felt harassed or discriminated against by the action.

The legislation comes amid a national reckoning on race, and in a country still reeling from the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd. It also comes as cities — such as San Francisco — reexamine how their police departments interact with people of color, and how such communities are disproportionately targeted by law enforcement.

“Rather than calling the police or law enforcement on your neighbor or someone who you think doesn’t look like they should be your neighbor, try talking to them and getting to know them. Build relationships to know your community,” said Supervisor Shamann Walton, author of the ordinance.

The hope is that the legislation will spur people to use more discretion when calling 911 for a nonemergency. The law applies to those who feel they were harassed or embarrassed by a 911 caller, on the basis of race, sex, age, religion, disability, gender identity, weight or height.

This law comes on the heels of a viral video this summer in which a couple in Pacific Heights were videotaped questioning a Filipino American who stenciled “Black Lives Matter” on a wall outside of his home in June.

The couple claimed the man was defacing someone else’s property — even though he lived there — and called 911.

“Black, Indigenous, people of color have the right to go about daily activities without being threatened by someone calling 911 on them due to racial bias,” Walton said.