#CrimingWhileWhite Explodes on Twitter Following Eric Garner Decision

Following a grand jury’s decision not to indict the police officer who killed Eric Garner with a choke hold while arresting him in July, the hashtag #CrimingWhileWhite has begun trending online.

The hashtag was started Wednesday by former Daily Show writer Jason Ross, who is white. He revealed the minimal punishment he received from police for crimes he committed while growing up. 

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“Busted for larceny at 11,” he tweeted. “At 17, cited for booze + caught w gun @ school. No one called me a thug. Can’t recommend being white highly enough.”

Ross, who now writes for the Tonight Show, then encouraged other white people who follow him on Twitter to share their own stories of “under-punished f—-ups,” as he termed them. 

Ross’ hashtag has gotten a slew of responses, and he has been retweeting a number of the the stories. One Twitter user wrote: “Many white friends pulled over for DUI In college. Cops followed them home to make sure they got home safe, no arrests. #CrimingWhileWhite.”

Read more Jon Stewart on Eric Garner Case: We’re “Not Living in a Post-Racial Society”

Another person wrote: “As a passenger, told an officer my name was none of his f–king business, but that I wanted to know his. Matter dropped. #CrimingWhileWhite.”

A third person tweeted she was caught by a cop for running out of a restaurant without paying the bill. She only had to pay the bill and then was free to go.

Ross’ tweets, along with those by other users, can be seen below.

Busted 4 larceny at 11. At 17, cited for booze + caught w gun @ school. No one called me a thug. Can’t recommend being white highly enough.

— Jason Ross (@jasonjross) December 3, 2014

Yeah, but I can tell you’re a good kid. Just something about you. Go have fun, now.

— Jason Ross (@jasonjross) December 3, 2014

BTW, I’m not boasting. That record is (or was) sealed and I hoped never to contend w/ it again. But for fuck’s sake.

— Jason Ross (@jasonjross) December 3, 2014

OTHER WHITE PEOPLE: Tweet your stories of under-punished f-ups! It’s embarrassing but important! Let’s get #CrimingWhileWhite trending!

— Jason Ross (@jasonjross) December 3, 2014

Many white friends pulled over for DUI In college. Cops followed them home to make sure they got home safe, no arrests. #CrimingWhileWhite

— Nancy Arents (@narents) December 3, 2014

As a passenger, told an officer my name was none of his f–king business, but that I wanted to know his. Matter dropped. #CrimingWhileWhite

— Eric (@naporeon) December 3, 2014

I dined and dashed-cop found me at the movies, I paid the bill and he left. I was rude but not arrested and not killed. #CrimingWhileWhite

— Robyn Kopp (@filmfixation) December 3, 2014

I got caught shoplifting at a water park when I was a kid. Instead of calling the police, they called my dad. #CrimingWhileWhite

— Chris Travis (@ChrisTravisNYC) December 3, 2014

I was driving a car with a rejected sticker, no license, registration, any ID and a headlight out. Cops let me drive home #crimingwhilewhite

— Keith J Carberry (@KeithJCarberry) December 3, 2014

#CrimingWhileWhite got caught with weed by the police a half dozen times and they just took my weed and told me to go home.

— #PoliceThePolice (@Joe_Schmucc) December 3, 2014

White BF told cop who stopped him for speeding to “f**k off.” Let go with a warning and a “good night.” #crimingwhilewhite

— Anne B (@abroshar) December 3, 2014

Email: Ryan.Gajewski@pgmedia.org
Twitter: @_RyanGajewski