What's the best response to someone calling the police because you're having a dreaded barbecue? Invite the entire community for a huge party is probably a good one.
Groups of Oakland residents gathered at Lake Merritt Park to celebrate each other on Thursday where they listened to music and enjoyed grilled food, according to the MailOnline.
This was in response to the woman who called the police, yes the actual police, because a family were trying to have a barbecue - on land designated for barbecues.
The unidentified woman claims that the family were using a charcoal grill instead of a non-charcoal grill. Well lock them up and throw away the key before they commit anymore of these ghastly crimes.
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In the video, which was recorded by Michelle Snider who was a bystander that noticed the commotion, the woman is asked: "Why are you so bent out of shape over them being here?"
The woman replied: "Because it causes extra money from our city to do things when children get injured because of improperly disposed coals."
Then a fortnight after the incident, the residents in Oakland, California, gathered for a party at the same spot where the woman made the emergency call.
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Videos show people dancing and enjoying grilled food at the Lake Merritt Park in direct response to the video of the woman 'harassing' the family on April 25.
One resident, Michael Swanson Jr, took to Facebook saying: "This how we feel about mad ass Oakland gentrifiers," alongside a video of the celebration.
The MailOnline reported that someone sharing videos of the impromptu event said: "An alleged woman, with entitlement issues and privilege and part of the wave of gentrification sweeping Oakland called the police on a Black Family and then cried tears of fake fear and then THIS HAPPENED:bangbang: thank you for the hate. #CookingOutWhileBlack".
Although no action was taken, authorities questioned the family for one hour, according to Oakland Council member Lynette Gibson McElhaney.
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Lynette told the Huffington Post: "In a city that needs significant policing services, we can't have those precious expensive resources squandered in a frivolous way.
"Police are not a private security for any white person that's offended by the presence of black folks in our public spaces."
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According to the MailOnline, a neighbour called 911 when they didn't recognise the three women or the car that was parked outside the property.
They were eventually released when police realised they had done nothing wrong, however Prendergast said it highlights racial bias.
Topics: Viral, Police, Interesting, Community, california