Verdant Julius, the sophomore class president at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, was arrested by campus police while attempting to enter his residence hall with two friends to clear out his belongings as the university transitioned to all online instruction.
The police officers allegedly wouldn’t allow the young woman accompanying Julius to enter the building even though she was a student at the school. The officers stated only people who lived in the dorm could enter. When Julius approached the officers and asked why his friend couldn’t help him, the officers were said to have stated, “If you take one step closer I am going to have you arrested for obstruction of an investigation.”
A video of the incident that was posted on Twitter shows Julius being grabbed by the two officers and pressed up against the wall. He was then thrown down and his face was pressed to the floor while he was handcuffed. One officer was heard to say, “If you resist, I am going to mace you.”
Julius was detained on charges of resisting arrest, obstruction of a public officer and trespassing. He was released after he agreed to appear in court.
In a statement announcing that the two arresting officers were placed on administrative leave, a university spokesperson said:
“University administrators are evaluating the matter in an effort to reach an appropriate resolution. Further, we have met with the individual student, as well as Student Government Association leadership, to understand their concerns. Be assured that the issue of campus safety is one of our top priorities and maintaining that safe environment requires the cooperation and understanding of every member of our community.”
In too many places in America, to ask a police officer a simple “why”-type question is to risk being charged with “obstruction,” “rioting,” or worse — especially in this particular political era. It’s an outrage.
Yes. There are too many cops who (1) are racist? (2) act as if they’re getting paid millions of dollars a year, or (3) think they are Judge Dredd. We need more African-American cops.