Four months after a viral moment in Oakland, California, audio of the 911 calls behind it is out. Authorities released recordings to FOX affiliate KTVU of two calls made by Jennifer, the woman the internet nicknamed “BBQ Becky.”
The incident dates back to April, when Jennifer called police on two black men who were cooking with a charcoal grill at Lake Merritt. A video of her confrontation with them, about 25 minutes long, spread widely online.
In the first call, Jennifer reportedly told a male dispatcher that the men were using the grill in a non designated area and said she wanted it dealt with immediately. The dispatcher asked her to describe the men, and the call ended.
She called again a few hours later and reached a female dispatcher. Jennifer said she was scared and wanted police to hurry. The dispatcher asked why she was so upset over a barbecue and suggested she walk away. Jennifer said the family had followed her out of the park, and a voice in the background could be heard saying she was the one harassing people.
When the dispatcher asked for her name and a description of herself, Jennifer at first declined, saying her race did not matter. The dispatcher replied that it did matter, since officers needed a way to find her. The dispatcher also asked whether she had ever been to John George, which the dispatcher described as a mental facility. Jennifer answered no, and then gave her information.
According to Oakland City Council member Lynette Gibson McElhaney, speaking to HuffPost in May, police did not cite the people grilling but did detain and question them for more than an hour. McElhaney called the incident a clear example of racism. Jennifer’s side of the story beyond the calls was not part of the audio release.
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