by Sharelle Burt
March 7, 2024
None of that was most likely obligatory….
A viral video of a Black LGBTQ+ Philadelphia chief being arrested on a busy freeway has Mayor Cherrelle Parker involved.
Head of town’s Workplace of LGBT Affairs, Celena Morrison, and her husband, Darius McLean, have been arrested by a white state trooper throughout a site visitors cease that went left. With the entire incident being recorded, Parker stated the video is “very regarding.”
“A video circulating on social media that depicts a portion of the incident may be very regarding to me,” she stated in a restricted assertion as she waits till the investigation tells extra.
Morrison and McLean have been pulled over on Mach 2 shortly after 9 a.m. whereas driving on Interstate 76. Morrison filmed the entire ordeal, displaying her husband being handcuffed within the rain whereas mendacity down on the shoulder of the roadway. “Do you need to get Tased? Put your fingers behind your again!” the officer will be heard saying.
To de-escalate the state of affairs, Morrison shouted, “I work for the mayor! I work for the mayor!” earlier than telling her husband to not fear.
After McLean says, “It’s ’trigger I’m Black.”
The unidentified officer seemingly strikes in the direction of Morrison, telling her to show round. After the digital camera ends on the bottom, the officer tells town chief, “Give me your fingers, otherwise you’re getting Tased!”
Morrison then tells her husband, “Don’t fear. I don’t know why that is taking place,” and “Keep calm; we ain’t carried out nothing incorrect,” earlier than the officer is heard yelling to McLean to not attain for something.
Police reported the city-based neighborhood heart homeowners have been pulled over “after a number of car code violations have been noticed.”
Each have been detained on obstruction and resisting arrest fees; District Legal professional Larry Krasner has not filed fees.
The DA’s workplace stated in an announcement that they’ve “made no charging determination pending a radical, even-handed investigation.”
A state police spokesperson stated the trooper is not going to be on patrol whereas the investigation is ongoing.
A rising quantity of assist for town chief will be seen on social media. Govt Director of the William Approach LGBT Middle, Chris Bartlett, referred to the state of affairs as “yet one more instance within the lengthy institutional historical past of over-policing and disproportional outcomes in opposition to Black, Brown, and LGBTQ+ individuals, notably Black trans individuals.”
Media character and LGBTQ+ neighborhood member Ts Madison shared the video, issuing an announcement on behalf of Philadelphia Black Pleasure. “Philadelphia Black Pleasure denounces any use of extreme pressure on any individual of the black, brown, and/or LGBTQIA+ neighborhood,” she wrote.
“Upholding the rights and dignity of all members of the neighborhood, particularly these from marginalized teams, is essential for fostering a simply and inclusive society.”
Morrison, who’s transgender, has held her place since 2020 and remained a high aide to Parker after she took workplace in January 2024.
