2008 Woodie Awards
YouTube Clip of the Week
Baltimore Police vs. Skateboarders
Robert Johnson
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: The Mix
This week, dozens of users have posted copies of a controversial video on YouTube of a conflict between a 14-year-old skater and an irate Baltimore police officer. The teenager was skateboarding with his friends in an area where such activities are restricted. A passing police officer warns the teens to stop. After the officer warns them a second time, one skater claims he could not hear the policeman. At some point during this exchange, the teenager makes the mistake of addressing the policeman as "dude," instead of "sir," and resists when the officer attempts to confiscate the boy's skateboard.
This leads to a hostile encounter. The boy will not remain silent, and this only agitates the policeman even more. While both individuals may have handled the situation inappropriately, the majority of YouTube users focus on the actions of the officer, who at one point shoves the kid into the sidewalk.
While this incident does not seem to have been covered by major news media, it has been rapidly rising in popularity and has been duplicated many times. Many other videos documenting confrontations with police forces have been posted on YouTube as well, including the infamous arrest of a University of Florida student during a town forum with John Kerry. However, this particular video seems to be especially provocative for viewers because it involves a young teenager.
This leads to a hostile encounter. The boy will not remain silent, and this only agitates the policeman even more. While both individuals may have handled the situation inappropriately, the majority of YouTube users focus on the actions of the officer, who at one point shoves the kid into the sidewalk.
While this incident does not seem to have been covered by major news media, it has been rapidly rising in popularity and has been duplicated many times. Many other videos documenting confrontations with police forces have been posted on YouTube as well, including the infamous arrest of a University of Florida student during a town forum with John Kerry. However, this particular video seems to be especially provocative for viewers because it involves a young teenager.
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