Photo:Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic/Youtube; Facebook
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic/Youtube; Facebook
A verbal dispute over an unleashed dog went viral in spring 2020, prompting a discussion way bigger than the one that went down in New York City’s Central Park that day.
On May 25, aclipcaptured in a section of the famed park known as “The Ramble” generated attention on Twitter. In it, a White woman called the cops after a Black birdwatcher asked her to leash her dog, per park regulations.
Immediately, Amy threatened to call the cops, which she ultimately did. While Amy dialed 911, she said, “I’m going to tell them there’s an African American man threatening my life.” Christian filmed the entire encounter, which his sister uploaded to Twitter soon after.
Thevideo went viralon the platform, garnering over 40 million views. It set off a painful discourse about the history ofdangerous false accusationsagainst Black people made to police.
Amylater apologized, and was fired from her job (the company released a statement saying “we do not condone racism of any kind”). Christian toldCNNhe began videotaping the encounter “because I thought it was important to document things.”
“Unfortunately we live in an era withthings like Ahmaud Arbery, where Black men are seen as targets. This woman thought she could exploit that to her advantage, and I wasn’t having it,” he said.Only a few hours afterChristian’s incident in Central Park,George Floyd would be killedin Minneapolis that same day.
“The two Memorial Day incidents captured on video two facets of entrenched racism Black people experience: one the horrors of police brutality, the other the routine humiliations and threats in daily life,” wrote theNew York Times.
Here’s everything to know about the birdwatching incident that went down in Central Park.
Who is Christian Cooper?
Jon Kroll/National Geographic
Though his work was widely public, it wasn’t until May 25, 2020 that the Long Island native found himself the center of headlines relating to his other passion: birdwatching.
“I got fascinated with the birds that were coming to the feeder. Particularly a red-winged blackbird. I saw this black bird with red on its wings. I’m like, ‘I discovered a new species of crow,’ “he recalled while promoting his upcoming National Geographic show on birdwatching.
Who is Amy Cooper?
Christian Cooper/Facebook
Amy Cooper is a New York resident from Manhattan’s Upper West Side neighborhood who is unrelated to Christian. She worked as an insurance portfolio manager at Franklin Templeton Investments, an asset management firm.
Amy was walking Henry, her adopted cocker spaniel fromAbandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue, Inc., for whom she had an Instagram account dedicated to his exploits.
What happened between Christian and Amy in Central Park?
Getty Images
On May 25, 2020 avideocaptured in the part of Central Park generated attention on Twitter, which portrayed a white woman calling the cops after another park-goer asked her to leash her dog, according to park regulations.
In the clip, Christian was heard responding calmly to an agitated Amy, who threatened him with calling the police. “I’m going to tell them there’s an African-American man threatening my life,” she said, as she dialed 911.
The video shows that before and during the 911 call,Amy referred to Christian as “African-American” three times. Christian’s sister later uploaded the clip to Twitter, where it has beenviewed more than 40 million timesprior to being deleted.
Christian told CNNthe next day that he began videotaping the encounter “because I thought it was important to document things … unfortunately we live in an era with things like Ahmaud Arbery, where black men are seen as targets.”
“That’s important to us birders because we know that dogs won’t be off-leash at all and we can go there to see the ground-dwelling birds,” he said. “People spend a lot of money and time planting in those areas as well. Nothing grows in a dog run for a reason.”
Speaking withGood Morning Americathat same day, Christian said during the situation — before he began recording — he tried to offer the unleashed dog a treat to prevent it from roaming.
What happened to Amy Cooper?
The NYPD toldUSA Todaythat officers were called to the area and determined that the pair had engaged in a “verbal dispute.” No arrests were made or summonses issued.
However, Amy was met with other repercussions in the wake of the incident. Franklin Templeton Investments, the asset management firm that employed Amy, announced itsdecision to “terminate” herthe day after the clip went viral.
Ahead of her firing,Amy spoke to WNBCin an attempt to apologize for her actions.
“It was unacceptable. And you know words are just words and I can’t undo what I did,” she said. “But I sincerely and humbly apologize to everyone. Especially to that man, his family.”
“When I think about the police, I’m such a blessed person,” Amy continued. “I think of [the police] as a protection agency, and unfortunately, this has caused me to realize that there are so many people in this country that don’t have that luxury.”
On Facebook, the shelterAbandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue, Inc.said at the time that Amy adopted the dog “a few years ago,” and after concerns about her treatment of Henry surfaced due to the video, she “voluntarily surrendered the dog in question to our rescue while this matter is being addressed.” (The dog was returned to her after a veterinarian’s evaluation.)
Amy latersued Franklin Templeton in May 2021after the firm fired her over her viral Central Park incident, claiming the company engaged in race and gender discrimination in terminating her days after she called 911 on Christian. She lost the suit.
Where is Christian Cooper now?
In addition to his duties as vice president at the N.Y.C. Audubon Society, Christian is set to host a new National Geographic show,Extraordinary Birder, premiering onNat Geo WILDon June 17 and Disney+ on June 21.
Christian, who also served as a consulting producer on the show, takes viewers around the world to marvel at some of Earth’s most splendid birds and what they give to our planet. “Wild birds connect you to the natural world, and they remind you that we are part of this whole process too,“Cooper saidof what he wants animal lovers to take away from the show.
Along with the show, Christian is working to bring more people to the birding world with his upcoming bookBetter Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World,out June 13 through Penguin Random House.
“In what ways has it not made my life better?” Coopers told PEOPLE of the title’s inspiration. “It makes me feel connected to the world around me.” He is also fostering new birders through Feathered Friends, an afterschool program he started through the New York City Audubon.
source: people.com
