In the age of burnt Nikes and patriotism, maybe black lives do matter.
Courtesy: Isaiah Butterfield’s Twitter
The video that has gotten over 475,000 views on Twitter shows four FAMU students being harassed by someone who has been identified as Don Crandall, a former hotel manager. The students were at a local apartment complex visiting a friend when Don Crandall refused to let them on the elevator because they did not have a key. When the students ask Crandall to show his key, he instead showed them his gun. One of the students was able to capture the entire video on camera and then posted it all on Twitter.
Currently, Tallahassee Police Department is conducting an investigation into the matter. Since the video was published on Isaiah Butterfield’s twitter, Don Cradle has been identified and fired by his employers at Pax Hotel Group. He was the General Manager of the Baymont by Wyndham of Tallahassee Central. Without mentioning Crandall’s name, the hotel posted an apology and assured the public that they did not stand with his actions. Crandall’s reason for being at a student housing complex is still unclear.
Courtesy: Instagram
While this is not the first time we are hearing about racism and discrimination on a college campus, it is still a sad thing to hear. Not even counting the moments that are not caught on video, discrimination towards marginalized groups is still a present problem, despite the beliefs that we have “moved past” racism. Videos like this are an important aspect of the Black Lives Matter Movement, as they remind people what they are fighting for. Learning that this is happening in our community is not surprising but that does not make it okay.
Isaiah Butterfield, a junior at FAMU who posted the video, said this, “The whole situation is embarrassing. You don’t retaliate violently and Black America calls you soft, and even though you didn’t touch anybody White America calls you a thug. Never knew right and wrong could be so blurred. To all the young black men, I pray for your safety because there are men out there like Don Crandall trying to provoke you into signing your own death certificate.”
In this country, we have many marginalized groups who have to deal with the fact that something as simple as getting in an elevator can be dangerous. It is important that when we watch videos like this, that we move past social media and move into action so that we are not staying stagnant in the movement for social justice.