The internet is calling for justice for a Black mother and her young children who were unjustly targeted by police in a frightening traffic stop. Hope York posted terrifying video footage on TikTok showing the moment police officers in Dover, Delaware stopped the car she, her children, ages 14, 8 and 3 and a female friend were riding in. York said she has no idea why they were targeted because the driver, who is the owner of the car, never reported it stolen.
Suggested Reading
But she is even more outraged at the way officers treated them, approaching the group with guns drawn and arresting them without asking for identification or the car’s registration.
“[Tonight] We were pulled over [by] Dover PD for what police said was “driving a stolen car” the driver was the owner of the vehicle. They arrested her, me, and my 13 year old son. They pointed guns at my 3 and 8 year olds while ordering them out of the vehicle. Took us to the police station, never made any reports and then released us,” she captioned her post. “No apologies, no pressed charges, just go home before we find a reason to write you a ticket.”
In a another post, York can be heard video begging the police officers not to point their guns at her children, while telling the kids to stay in the car and record the exchange on a cell phone.
Moments after taking the family to the police precinct, officers realized they made a mistake and let the group go, but the damage had already been done. York says the officers told her they had guns drawn when they approached the children out of fear for their own lives.
“Then told me they had they guns out in case my kids had guns because white cops are dying,”she wrote on TikTok.” “As a mother, I was scared, angry, hurt, and confused and still I had to be strong enough to soothe my children while I genuinely had no idea if we would be okay or if/when I’d see them again when all we did was go get dinner and snacks.”
York’s initial video has received over 95,000 views and thousands of comments. Many of those who watched the exchange believe the incident was racially motivated and are encouraging York to take legal action against the police.
“I’m glad you got out of this safe but absolutely contact a lawyer bc that’s wild,” wrote someone in the comments.
Straight From 
Sign up for our free daily newsletter.