Another example of racial profiling has surfaced, leaving many of us once again asking: when will this stop? A Florida teen, who was simply out for a walk in his own neighborhood, was targeted by a group of non-Black men who followed him, harassed him, and questioned his right to be there.
Source: EyeEm Mobile GmbH / Getty
What should have been a peaceful stroll to make a phone call turned into a 10-minute nightmare of relentless suspicion and intimidation.
Sound familiar? #RestInPeaceTrayvonMartin and the list of all other names whom police harass.
Thankfully, the victim is still alive.
A Walk Turns Into Racial Profiling
The disturbing footage, captured by the teen and posted by his mother on TikTok, shows several men trailing the young Black male through a gated Sarasota community.
Despite his clear statements that he lived in the neighborhood, the men refused to believe him, hurling accusations and insults.
One even called him a “loser.”
@qweenie333 TikTok, I really need some help, what you see here is my child being racially profiled, and followed by four grown men all because he was walking around OUR neighborhood… I guess we look like we don’t belong in a upscale neighborhood but Here is a little back story: The morning aftermath of hurricane Milton my son wanted to walk the neighborhood to talk to his girlfriend on his phone, because we didnt have power so his service was bad in the house. THIS is what he had to deal with. Even after telling these men he lives here they we’re not satisfied with his answer and continue to harass him.. this was not a 1 minute altercation, my son was followed for over 10 minutes dealing with this. I am so happy he recorded every moment, and thankful my child is still here. But I need to know how is it OK. I do not want to live in a community that does not welcome me and my children because the color of our skin.#blacktiktok #blacktiktokcommunity #blm #blacklivesmatter #blacktiktok #helpme #isthisok
As reported by Yahoo Finance, the teen’s mother explained that her son had been walking to find better cell reception after Hurricane Milton knocked out power in their home. What he encountered instead was a group of men who saw his presence as a threat based solely on the color of his skin.
@qweenie333 Soo let me make MYSELF VERY CLEAR here on a FEW things: 1) This is MY CHILD he is a teenage (18) he is still my child! 2) HE LIVES IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD -he fucking belongs!!- 3) These people are trying to spend the narrative by saying he approached some woman and tried to enter her garage.. none of this is true! -He spoke to a woman in passing- He was on the side walk! When he returned from walking around the block, her husband and way more people was standing outside waiting on him to return,That is when my son decided to pull out his phone because he felt unsafe at how many people We’re outside questioning him on who he is and why he was there! 4) People are telling me to call the police.. at the end of this video. You will see that one of their friends not sure if he was off-duty but officer did pulled up in his cruiser… once he realize that he was being recorded he admitted, seeing my son walking around the neighborhood and NOT opposing a threat! I just want to sit this here for people that continue to want to listen to BS. Once apon a tome there was a black man whose name was Emmett Till, the woman that did this same crap in 1955 recently shared on her deathbed that she lied about this man hitting on her, Now Emmett Till is no longer here! What you see Is a blueprint of exactly what happens to these black men that are no longer here, they are being prey on by mobs of people, they call their police friends to come and corner them once they have them in a helpless position, these men are unalived and can’t tell their side of the story.. so once again here I AM, making awareness that racism still exist this very day and there should be repercussions to this types of behavior so that it will stop! We deserve to have a nice life to, we deserve to be here and lice just as comfortable as anyone else thats NOT BLACK! We deserve our lives bblmbblacklivesmatterbblacktiktokwwematterb#blackfamiliesmatter
The situation escalated when one of the men angrily reached into a vehicle, attempting to retrieve a gun.
@qweenie333 It was at this moment each time I watch this video at the end. I wonder what I still have my son if that man wasn’t there to hold back his other thug member. #blacklivesmatter #blk #helpme
Fortunately, another neighbor held him back before the confrontation could become even more dangerous. According to NewsOne, the parallels to the murder of Ahmaud Arbery are haunting—Arbery was chased and killed in 2020 while jogging through his own Georgia neighborhood, also targeted for simply existing while Black.
Though this young man’s story didn’t end in violence, the fear and trauma he endured are undeniable.
Viral Video Sparks Accountability
Source: STAN HONDA / Getty
As is too often the case, it took a viral video and public outrage to spur any kind of accountability. The footage has amassed more than 5 million views on TikTok, with users flooding social media to demand justice.
One of the men in the video, identified as Stephen Carega, worked for the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). As the pressure mounted, LSEG launched an internal investigation, leading to Carega’s suspension and subsequent firing.
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In a statement shared by Yahoo Finance, an LSEG spokesperson confirmed details.
“The individual involved was initially suspended while we investigated the matter. The investigation has now concluded, and the individual’s employment has been terminated.”
The company also reiterated its zero-tolerance policy against racism and harassment, but the damage has been done.
No corporate statement can erase the fact that, in 2024, Black people still have to fear for their safety while doing the most basic of things—walking through their own neighborhoods.
Racial Profiling Remains a Constant Threat
As the video continues to circulate online, the story has become another grim reminder that racial profiling is still very much alive in America. It’s exhausting to watch these same stories play out time and time again, where the burden of proof is placed on Black people just to justify their presence.
The teen’s mother, in her TikTok post, expressed both relief that her son made it home safely and frustration over the ordeal.
“I do not want to live in a community that does not welcome me and my children because [of] the color of our skin.”
Social media sleuths claim to have identified the other members of the wannabe lynch mob, and hopefully, this will lead to more consequences than just losing a job.
This incident, like many others before it, forces us to confront the reality that the US still suffers with race matters. Though Carega was quickly removed, it’s clear that more needs to be done to stop these incidents from happening in the first place.
The post London Stock Exchange Fires Wannabe Zimmerman For Harassing & Threatening Florida Teen For ‘Walking While Black’ In His Own Neighborhood appeared first on Bossip.
