Roddy White played 11 seasons in the NFL, all with the Atlanta Falcons. He earned four trips to the Pro Bowl and was seen as a tremendous influence in the local community.
Never in trouble with the law during his playing days, White’s recent Tweet storm suggests that he was a victim of racial profiling by a police officer in Georgia.
White, who just recently retired from the NFL following the 2015 season, indicated that a police officer in Dekalb County went for his gun during what seemed to be a routine traffic stop for speeding and expired tags.
So I just got pulled over for speeding and my tag expired so I got 2 tickets which I wasn't complaining about I gladly excepted them
— Roddy White (@roddywhiteTV) November 16, 2016
But what I had a problem with is officer Kirby of the dekalb county police department bag #1970 I'm going to have to report this man
— Roddy White (@roddywhiteTV) November 16, 2016
Through his Twitter account, White went on to detail a situation in which the officer immediately went for his gun after the stop.
This officer got out his car and immediately unbutton his his strap on his gun and put his hand on his gun and came to my car wit his hand
— Roddy White (@roddywhiteTV) November 16, 2016
White then apparently went on to ask the officer why he went for his gun. Here’s that interaction, according to the former NFL receiver.
On his gun like I was going to do something to him so I asked him why he had his hand on his gun the man said it was police procedure
— Roddy White (@roddywhiteTV) November 16, 2016
So I said really and he said no it's my procedure I than asked him why do u think I want to hurt you and he had no response I than said
— Roddy White (@roddywhiteTV) November 16, 2016
As White reported through social media, he’s going to report officer “Kirby” to the authorities.
The fact that this happened isn’t exactly uncommon. We hear stories like this on a daily basis. Police officers seemingly racially profiling African-Americans and other minority groups. Though, White taking to social media to detail his experience brings the whole thing to the forefront once again.
It’s in this that White himself had a message for the masses.
It's cops like you that makes this world a very ugly place its a good thing I already had all my information to give him or I could've died
— Roddy White (@roddywhiteTV) November 16, 2016
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. But for now, it appears that White himself is okay. Whether his complaint will be met with action remains to be seen.
At a time when racial tensions are boiling over in the United States, it is important that we hear these stories from those most impacted. It gives a face and a name to those who are being profiled.
