Four-months- pregnant Ebony Washington was driving home with her children at night when Florida deputy Jason DeSue ordered her to pull over. A nervous Washington drove to a more well-lit area.
But when she did, this historically abusive cop got violent.
Swearing, DeSue held Washington at gunpoint as he forced her out the car. “You make any movement that will be the last mistake you ever make,” he warned. “I got my gun.” And when she tried to reason with him, he grabbed her, handcuffing her roughly. “Shut up about the why.”
DeSue was already on his “last chance” with his department. So, not long after his supervisor arrived to the scene and released Washington, he had to resign.
But DeSue isn’t the only problem.
Black women in general are too often left out of the conversation about systemic police violence.
Washington, fortunately, had a strong family backing her up. Her children filmed the incident and called their father. Her husband, a pastor, posted on social media about it - pushing the department to release the rest of the footage!
Though police operate under the facade of public safety, they don’t keep us safe. And when Black women like Washington are a critical part of Black families, it isn’t just an attack on individuals, but on generations.