On a frigid Friday night in the more popular of the twin cities I found myself in the need of a cab. It was 1:01 in the morning, to be exact. I remember this, because, in Minneapolis the buses stop running at exactly 1am. We arrived just in time to watch the last bus of the night drive off. I was with my new friend, Edwin Okumbo.
We met earlier that night at the Acme comedy club. He was doing a guest set and I was the feature. He is good friends with the headliner from that week, Bill Santiago, who got him the set. They came up together in the San Francisco Comedy Scene. Edwin had just moved to Minneapolis to take a job as an editor of an African American Relations Journal for the city. He wanted to continue to pursue his first love, stand up comedy - and if you have an opportunity to play Acme, the only full time comedy club in town - you take it. Edwin's ethnicity happens to be Kenyan.
After the second show ended (they both went very well), Edwin and I decided to accompany each other home. We were both headed up town. Upon missing our bus, I flagged down a cab. The cab pulled over on the opposite side of the street from where we were standing. The driver waved us over. I ran around the cab and entered the rear right of the cab. Edwin slowly made his way into the left side of the cab. As Edwin entered the cab, the driver asked me where we were going. I told him that we will both get out at 36th and Hennepin. The driver responded with, "ok, here is my deal, Eight dollars for you and 12 dollars for your friend." Without giving any thought to the odd/racist terms, I foolishly agreed. As soon as Edwin was in the car, we took off. Immediately, Edwin felt uneasy. He asked me why the meeter was not running. I told him that the deal was eight for me and twelve for him. He responded with, "What! no no no. I want the meeter on." I asked the driver to turn the meeter on. the driver pulled the car over. I explained that we already agreed to a price. I requested that the terms be altered and that he turn the meeter on. The driver told us that we cannot change our minds we already agreed. After some argument Edwin said, "Fine just take us home." We gave the driver our allotted total. Then he turned to me and said, "This bullshit always happens to me. I can never get an honest cab in this town." We took off a second time. At this point I would like to mention that the race of the driver was Somalian
Edwin took out his notebook and asked the driver for his name. He then began to write the cab drivers license and company employee number. Once the driver realized that Edwin was forming a complaint, everything went down hill. He pulled the cab over for a second time. this time he took Edwin's twelve dollars out of his pocket. He said, "I will not be dictated to in my cab." He handed the money to Edwin and got out of the cab. He opened Edwin's door and asked him to leave. Edwin refused. At this point I am in shock. After about three minutes of heated argument between the driver and Edwin, the driver noticed that there was a police officer across the street handling a separate incident. He said, "one last chance. get out or I get the cops." then he looked at me and said, "You can stay." I explained that we were friends and needed to stay together. The driver did not believe this. Edwin said, "You know what, go get the police officer." The driver went over to the officer. They talked for a couple of minutes. We sat patiently in the cab.
The Police office swiftly began to walk towards us. We expected to have a chance to explain the situation to the officer. this did not happen. The officer immediately walked to my side of the car. He opened my door and yelled "Get Out Or I Will Tazer You!" I think my response to that was, "Wha no no What no no no ok ok ok get out ok". Edwin and I both exited the vehicle. The whole time the officer held the tazer up to my face. Now, I have never been tazered in the face before, and it is not on my bucket list. I think at that point I whined, "We are not resisting. We will leave." We started to walk away from the situation. As the officer began to walk away Edwin shouts, "I know my rights!"
"Excuse me" responds the officer.
"I know my rights!" repeats Edwin. "I am going to complain about this"
"Do you want to get arrested?" Asks the officer. I knew he wasn't asking me, but I responded with a "NO" just in case.
"Arrest me for what?" Enquired Edwin.
"That's IT!". At this moment the officer hauls ass towards Edwin. At this point I think I let out a girlish whimper for surrender. As Edwin was being tackled to the ground my the angry Asian-American Police Officer, two gigantic average joe white guy officers showed up.
"I am making an arrest" The Asian American officer says to them. I walked towards the two new officers in hopes to explain our way out of the arrest.
"You will walk away now!" One of them shouted at me. Then then continued to assist the Asian-American officer in pinning down a man who was in no way resisting. I walked about three steps and watched. I was determined to not let my new friend get beat up for no reason. I watched as they dragged him to the cop car and tossed him in.
I was now alone in a city that I was completely unfamiliar with at about 1:30 am. Because I am such a manly man, the first thing I decided to do was to call my wife. After I explained to her that I just witnessed the craziest thing ever, I decided that I had to do something. Once I got my bearings, I headed back to Acme. I was hoping that there were still some staff there, and they could help me out. I knew I couldn't call the cops. they were not my friends at this moment. I finally decided to call Bill Santiago. Luckily he answered. We met up at his hotel. Long story short - after about two hours of making calls to find where Edwin was being held, we found out the pertinent information. We went to the jailhouse and payed his bail. Edwin was released at about 4:30 am. When it was all said and done they charged him with three counts: Destruction of property (?), resisting arrest (apparently they did not hear him repeatedly explain that he was not resisting), and something called interfering with taxi cab process (ok - maybe he did do that). He also told me that throughout the arrest the Asian American officer kept grabbing his balls.
Edwin is currently attempting to file a complaint and get the charges dropped. I have not yet been reached to give a statement, but I can't wait. I knew it existed - but racism has never grabbed me by the collar and given me a good shake up until that night.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
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