Individuals and small businesses are fighting back against aggression toward people of color. That included Donald Trump’s attack on the babies, toddlers, and children of women and men seeking asylum from Central American violence, but others, too. One powerful video shows how one person can make a difference, after all.
A woman in Los Angeles called the police on a little eight-year-old girl in a variation on the lemonade stand business. She was just selling water on a hot day. Then, a nearby woman, identified as Alison Ettel, may have done something that ruined her own business.
https://youtu.be/Z1OH6CCuMaQ
The woman was identified as Alison Ettel, and her absurd act was caught on a video by the child’s mother, Erin Austin. It went viral. As a result Ettel’s business, Treatwell Tinctures, has begun to suffer, big time.
Ettel’s business sold cannabis products for dogs. The viral video might actually tank her business completely. It showed the white woman, who lived in the area, on her cell phone allegedly making a report to police.
In her call, the video captured the woman saying:
‘Yeah, illegally selling water without a permit.’
Austin posted her video on Instagram. Her caption Ettel “#PermitPatty” and read:
‘An 8-year-old selling water in front of her apartment building where she’s lived her whole life is NOT a reason to call the Police.’
Magnolia Wellness Cannavis Dispensary sent out this social media post announcing why it was boycotting Ettel’s business, according to NBC LosAngeles:
‘As of today Magnolia will no longer be doing business with Treatwell Tinctures after seeing this video of their CEO calling the police on an 8 year old entreprenuer (sic) selling water on a hot day we decided without hesitation we could no longer patronize her company.’
Ladyesowavy wrote on her Instagram page:
‘Make this bitch go viral like #bbqbecky she’s #permitpatty would you rather my daughter be out here getting into shit Fr cuz an 8 year old selling water in front of her apartment building where she’s lived her whole life is NOT a reason to call the Police ???’
Austin said the police never bothered to come, but she was “upset:”
‘I’m upset she had to go through this. I didn’t think in San Francisco my biracial child would have to go through something like this.’
The #PermitPatty video ignited anger and a dynamic conversation about racism and the role of police. San Francisco resident, Kari Estrada said:
‘I highly doubt she was on anyone else’s cases about whether they have a permit.’
Ettel’s Facebook page listed a post that read:
‘There is always so much more to a situation than meets the eye, please don’t ever forget that.’
The owner of Treatwell Tinctures said that the little girl was too noisy and interfering with her work. Then, she said that she only pretended to call the police.
This was not the only incident of its type. An Oakland, CA woman also called the police to report that an African-American man was using his charcoal grill in an area that prohibited it. The social media nicknamed her “BBQ Becky.”
Community organizer, Carol Fiffe, commented on the incident:
‘Oftentimes when African-American people are involved, it leads to an escalation of police force.’
Featured Image via YouTube Screen Grab.
