On May 20, journalist Shaun King posted a story on his social media account that involved a Black women being raped by a White cop. The story went viral.
According to King, Sherita Dixon Cole was allegedly kidnapped, raped, and taken to jail after a traffic stop that occurred in Waxahachie, Texas.
However, after police body cam and dash cam videos were released, it was discovered that Cole lied about the entire incident. Cole claimed that Officer Hubbard raped her behind an old car dealership. But according to video footage, Officer Hubbard arrested Cole on suspicion of drunk driving and took her straight to jail. In a statement released by Cole’s lawyer, S. Lee Merritt, she said, “It is deeply troubling when innocent parties are falsely accused, and I am truly sorry for any trouble these claims may have caused Officer Hubbard and his family.
However, her misleading story is another negative fall out of the “Me Too” movement. Although it began as a movement to reveal sexual abuse that goes unchecked, it has also opened the door for a slew of false accusations.
Russell Simmons, Too Short, and Trey Songz are notable men who were recently accused of sexual assault and battery only to be proven innocent after evidence was presented.
Cole received national support and brought attention to the sexual abuse that some women have faced while in police custody. It’s a real issue with real victims. Over 1,000 police officers have been stripped of their badges due to sexual misconduct, according to a report by AP.
But the real victims are hurt by people like Cole and other false accusers who lie without caring about the damage that can be caused.
Officials in Waxahachie, Texas have yet to reveal if Cole will face additional charges.
