What is the Caren Act? Unpacking why there needs to be a federal anti-Karen bill in the US

By Mason Berlinka

Published May 16, 2023 at 03:38 PM

Reading time: 3 minutes

44245

Police brutality and racial discrimination is a daily reality for any non-white citizensB trying to go about their daily lives in the US. Social media has catapulted the reality of being Black in America to take centre stage, exposing a plethora of  all too entitled Americans racially profiling innocent passersby who they’ve deemed to be causing some kind of disturbance.. We know these perpetrators online as ‘Karens’.

Initially a harmless internet meme that poked fun at self-obsessed suburban American mothers who sport that haircut, always ask to speak to the manager, and have a serious issue with e-scooters, the term has now come to encompass anyone who seeks to obstruct or question people going about their business, more often than not because of unjust racial profiling.

Thanks to global movements like Black Lives Matter, legislature combating the problem has begun to finally surface and take shape, with San Francisco being a forerunner for progress, with its bill from 2020, the Caren Act.

What is the Caren Act?

The Caution Against Racial and Exploitative Non-Emergencies Act, abbreviated to Caren, is a play on the internet-appointed term for the bigots so often caught on film, who exploit their privilege by calling the police on innocent people trying to do simple things like barbeque, birdwatch, sell lemonade, or drive their car.

The bill aims to make the placing of racially-motivated 911 calls without legitimate merit or good reason a hate crime. POCs targeted by the calls made with racist intent now have the ability to sue those involved, provided the call can be proven to have been made on baseless grounds.

The act came at a time of great social upheaval in the US and has helped to grant power to those affected by these relentless attacks. However, the years that have followed have proven that the issue of Karens isn’t going away anytime soon, and the countless viral videos that have surfaced since the act was passed are making us wonder why this bill hasn’t been extended to the federal level.

Karen tries to steal paid Citi Bike from a Black man, then resorts to fake tears when she doesn’t get her way

If you need proof that the problem of Karens requires strong legislative backing, look no further than this video which was posted to Reddit on 15 May 2023. In the clip, we see a white woman painting herself out to be the victim, despite the fact that she’s trying to use someone else’s rented e-bike. Calls for help and tears become weaponised, and ultimately put the young Black men in a very dangerous situation.

Karen tried taking a CitiBike that was already paid for on his account. Then pulled out the white woman tears when her co-worker from the hospital showed up.
byu/Creepy_Reputation_16 inAmericanFascism2020

Karen calls police on Mexican nannies

This TikTok, posted only three days ago, shows a lady calling the police on a group of nannies who’re supervising children in a park. Her reasoning? Because “they aren’t from around here.” The incident took place in Maryland, but due to the lack of widespread implementation of the Caren Act, the woman in question will invariably be let off without even so much as a warning.

https://www.tiktok.com/@andreajm98/video/7232339678647668010?q=karen%20racism&t=1684231677643

Karen calls police on woman in her car while pretending to have a gun in her pocket

This next video from February shows an altercation between a Black woman in her car and, you guessed it, none other than a Karen calling the police. It’s unclear what the accuser’s problem actually is but from the video, she seems to be stuck on the phrase: “Cloth on your steering wheel!” Naturally, the woman filming tries to ignore the Karen freaking out beside her car, but this proves difficult when she sticks her fingers into her pocket, miming a gun.

It doesn’t take an expert to recognise how incredibly frustrating and infuriating this scenario is, particularly considering the amount of unarmed Black individuals who’ve been murdered by police because the authorities claimed they were holding a gun when they actually weren’t.

@kimberelycuadra

Pt.2 where she pretends to have a weapon #karen #racist

♬ original sound - ANGELIQUE🌷

Ken gets involved with teenagers trying to film in a mall

Sometimes it’s not Karen—it’s Ken. This video from May shows a grown man harassing a group of teenagers who are trying to film a music video inside of a mall. The caucasian Ken becomes immediately aggressive, using slurs and discriminatory language against the group. It’s become evident that Karens clearly aren’t alone in this hate-fuelled crusade.

https://www.tiktok.com/@theyhatestr/video/7230638914707475755

How much more evidence do we as a society need to witness to accurately prove just how important pieces of legislation like the Caren Act are in helping attempt to protect marginalised communities in the US?

Keep On Reading

By Charlie Sawyer

Why I never considered reporting the man who flashed me to the police

By Abby Amoakuh

How TikTok Live in Kenya is fueling concerns over virtual abuse and child exploitation

By Charlie Sawyer

Are Gal Gadot and Rachel Zegler feuding? Rumours swirl following Oscars 2025

By Charlie Sawyer

Not only are BMI scores sexist, racist and anxiety-inducing, they’re also massively inaccurate

By Abby Amoakuh

Did Meta just force everyone to follow Donald Trump and JD Vance on Instagram?

By Charlie Sawyer

Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz Beckham hire a lawyer to battle misinformation amid growing family rift

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Did Justin Bieber unfollow Usher on Instagram because of his former ties to Diddy?

By Charlie Sawyer

How Netflix’s Adolescence and Kyle Clifford’s triple murders connect to Andrew Tate

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Celebrities call out Blue Origin for sending Katy Perry and Lauren SĂĄnchez to space

By Abby Amoakuh

Aimee Lou Wood urges fans not to copy her teeth as DIY teeth filing trend rises on TikTok

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

The White House sparks outrage with ASMR video of shackled immigrants being deported

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

From Top G to PM? Andrew Tate’s Bruv Party launch sparks outrage

By Abby Amoakuh

From Darfur to Tigray, conflict-related sexual violence is devastating the lives of young women and girls globally

By Matilda Ferraris

From Ballerina Cappuccina to Trallalero TrallalĂ , we unpack the darker undertones of Italian brainrot

By Charlie Sawyer

Bianca Censori to become the new face of SKIMS? Sources hint at Kim Kardashian alliance

By Abby Amoakuh

Is Telegram the biggest threat to women’s safety? Chats for rape advice and sharing nudes suggest so

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

What is the mermaid eating parties conspiracy theory, and why are TikTokers now obsessed with it?

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Here’s how the Trump administration has already worsened the humanitarian crisis in Sudan

By Charlie Sawyer

Gavin Casalegno cancelled? The Summer I Turned Pretty fans turn on him amid cast drama

By Abby Amoakuh

Is OnlyFans star Bonnie Blue married? Everything you need to know about the adult star’s secret hubby