Protesting The Garner Decision: White People Tell Of Crimes They Got Away With

FILE- In this July 23, 2014 file photo, a pair of New York City police officers stand at their post as mourners arrive for the funeral service of Eric Garner at Bethel Baptist Church in the Brooklyn borough of New Yo... FILE- In this July 23, 2014 file photo, a pair of New York City police officers stand at their post as mourners arrive for the funeral service of Eric Garner at Bethel Baptist Church in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Garner died on July 17, 2014, after police officers put him in an illegal choke hold while trying to make an arrest. Some city police officers take exception with the way their mayor is handling the controversy surrounding Garner’s death, believing that Mayor Bill de Blasio is taking sides against them. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) MORE LESS

December 4, 2014 11:50 a.m.

Start your day with TPM.

#CrimingWhileWhite caught fire across Twitter on Wednesday night, as white Americans shared stories of crimes they committed without punishment from the law.

The hashtag was a response to a grand jury’s decision not to indict New York police officer Daniel Pantaleo for the death of Eric Garner. The white cop placed the black civilian in a choke hold after Garner was allegedly spotted selling loose cigarettes.

Twitter users submitted anecdotes to shed light on the racial double standard in U.S. law enforcement and the advantages that come with being white:

#CrimingWhileWhite: 1 time arrested w/weed, let go with warning by judge, black girls with me not so lucky. I was called a “nice girl”.

— Pookabun (@Pookabun) December 4, 2014

My 13yo son and his friends were loitering at Walgreens recently. Only his black friend got searched for shoplifting. ~ #CrimingWhileWhite ~

— Dave Hoover (@davehoover) December 4, 2014

At 13 I stole a car with my friends & drove it 2wks before we got busted. Only one charged was black. #CrimingWhileWhite

— Cecily Kellogg (@Cecilyk) December 4, 2014

When I was 17 I was caught shoplifting and they politely asked me to leave the store (with the merchandise) #crimingwhilewhite

— Mark Agee (@MarkAgee) December 3, 2014

#CrimingWhileWhite appears to have inspired another hashtag revealing the other side of the divide, in #AliveWhileBlack:

Crossing the grocery store parking lot. Cops stopped to ask me what I was doing there. I was holding grocery bags. #Alivewhileblack

— Mikki Kendall (@Karnythia) December 4, 2014

Pulled over Edina, Mn- 7:00am. Taking grandparents to doctor. asked “who’s mercerdes I was driving. Who’s Karen finney” #alivewhileblack

— Kathryn Finney (@KathrynFinney) December 4, 2014

Pulled over by cop for playing Jay Z while driving with open windows in Lincoln Pk, Chi. Detained 45 mins. #alivewhileblack @JamilahLemieux

— Amy DuBois Barnett (@amydbarnett) December 4, 2014

Robbed at gunpoint, didnt want 2 go 2 police ’til my mom urged me. Told police my story,treated me as if I robbed someone. #alivewhileblack

— CrackmusicDescendant (@hautcommodity) December 4, 2014

Start your day with TPM.

Brendan James

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