For those who still have doubts about whether or not white privilege is still in place, consider this news item from Jacksonville, Florida: A SWAT team waited nearly seven hours before finally forcing their way into a trailer to arrest a couple who refused to give up because they were busy having sex.
WTF?!
Officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office appeared on the scene Wednesday to arrest Ryan Patrick Bautista, a felon wanted on several outstanding warrants, including armed burglary. According to police, Bautista and Leanne Hunn proceeded to barricade themselves inside the trailer and refused to come out.
Also inside the trailer when police showed up was Michael V. Forte, whom police wanted to question for his connection with a fatal shooting on September 8.
The officers, who initially used loudspeakers to order the couple to exit, decided to call Bautista and Hunn on the phone. Hunn allegedly told officers she would eventually surrender, but that “she wanted to have sex with Bautista one last time.” Hunn then hung up the phone and went about her amorous intentions with Bautista. And the officers allowed them to!
Now let’s imagine what would have transpired had the couple been black: How many think they would have been allowed to consummate their relationship for one final time? It’s more likely that everyone in the trailer would now be deceased.
Seven hours later (seven hours!) the police finally forced their way into the mobile home and took those inside into custody. Forte is charged with murder, armed robbery with a firearm or other deadly weapon, and possession of a weapon by a felon. Hunn and Bautista have been charged with resisting arrest without violence.
Yet still one cannot help but wonder: Was it good for you, too?
