Taraji P. Henson painted a very concerning picture when she said her son, Marcel, had been racially profiled. It’s something that goes on constantly in America, and it seems extremely prevalent in our current culture.
Henson’s quotes about Marcel’s troubles with the cops led to the University of Southern California issuing a response and public outcry on social networks. Now, some are questioning if Henson was too quick to label it racial profiling after a video has surfaced of Marcel getting pulled over by the cops. The video released includes a tame exchange that followed.
At the time, Taraji P. Henson told Uptown Magazine , “My child has been racially profiled. He was in Glendale, California and did exactly everything the cops told him to do, including letting them illegally search his car. It was bogus because they didn’t give him the ticket for what he was pulled over for.”
The Empire actress continued to describe another incident that happened near the University of Southern California.
“Police stopped him for having his hands in his pockets. So guess where he’s going? Howard University. I’m not paying $50K so I can’t sleep at night wondering is this the night my son is getting racially profiled on campus.”
As stated, video was released from Marcel’s first incident via the Los Angeles Times . In the video, Marcel is shown driving a Honda Civic through a crosswalk. In the video, the officer tells Marcel that he was pulled over because he drove through the lighted crosswalk.
When the officer asked whether or not Marcel had anything illegal in his car, Taraji P. Henson’s son stated that he had marijuana on him, but that he had a license for it even though he couldn’t find it at the time.
During the exchange, the officer said, “I appreciate you being honest with me about the weed. I do appreciate that because I do smell weed.”
When the officers searched his car, they found marijuana, hash oil, a grinder, and a knife, which was legal. After telling officers that he smoked marijuana two hours before getting behind the wheel, a sobriety test was done and he passed.
Then, the officer told Henson’s son, “I am not going to give you a citation for running that yellow because that would actually put a moving violation on your driving license, and you are going to have to go to traffic school and all that stuff, so I am helping you by not giving you a violation on it. All I am going to do is take the weed from you.”
It’s also noted that Marcel’s race couldn’t be seen when he drove through the crosswalk. When the Los Angeles Times contacted Taraji P. Henson’s rep for a response, the rep said, “We have said all and wish to protect her son’s privacy.”
[Image via FOX]