His Celebrity Status May Have Saved Him From A Police Shooting

NY State Police squad car behind parked car
Zain Murdock
April 20, 2021

Driving near UCLA, Romeo Miller – the actor and rapper formerly known as Lil’ Romeo – was pulled over at gunpoint on suspicion that he was driving a stolen car. As a frightened Miller started to get his license and registration, the officer recognized him – he was safe. So why is he still scared?

“It’s scary for me because my brothers ain’t famous,” he said. “They bigger than me at 6’4, 6’5. These guys are intimidated by Black men.” He was saved by his celebrity status – but it shouldn’t have to be that way!

He also wasn’t surprised that the officer was Black. Even Black cops are a part of an anti-Black system.

But let’s circle all the way back to the beginning. Why did a cop have his gun drawn for a routine traffic stop anyway?

According to NPR, more than 25% of police shootings of unarmed Black men – including the recent killing of Daunte Wright – happened at traffic stops. This shouldn’t be normal! We shouldn’t have to fear for our lives whenever we get pulled over, celebrity or not.

As much as we acquire wealth, success, or celebrity, the system will always see us as a target. In other words, our tax dollars are feeding into a white supremacist system that aims to break us. This system has GOT to go.

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