Jason Goolsby was harassed by police and physically assaulted because he made a White woman to feel uncomfortable. On Oct. 13, Goolsby, 18, and two of his friends were at a bank in Washington, D.C., when the attack occurred.
According to the Washington Post, Goolsby had just found out that a studio session had been canceled and he took a moment to think about getting money from the ATM. A woman soon approached and Goolsby opened the door for her as she walked through while pushing a baby stroller. Apparently, Goolsby’s show of good manners were viewed as a threat to the unidentified White woman.
The woman called police and said she was afraid to get money from the ATM because she thought Black teens with “flat-top bush hairstyles” were plotting ways to rob customers at the bank.
Police arrived at the scene within moments. Goolsby said he was nearly hit by a police car and began to run out of fear. He was eventually caught and slammed to the pavement. Two White police officers continued to assault Goolsby as his friend recorded the incident. They told him to stop resisting, but it’s clear on the cellphone video that Goolsby was not resisting arrest as his arm was being twisted.
Officers then approached the friend who was recording the scene and forced him to put his cellphone away. Goolsby and his friend were both released after it was discovered that a crime had not been committed. Their only crime was being Black men who caused a White woman to feel threatened by merely existing.
The video has since gone viral and sparked the social media hashtag #Justice4Jason. Goolsby, who attends the University of the District of Columbia, has yet to reveal if he plans to file a lawsuit against the police department.
Watch video HERE
