When One Woman's Whiteness Becomes the Weapon
What I witnessed in Dallas—and why it’s part of the bigger problem
In this era of mass deportations and MAGA-fueled vigilantism, Black and Brown folks are being targeted suddenly and without warning. I witnessed this first hand yesterday at a Texas airport. It was one of those moments that crystallizes so much about what’s broken in this country. Let’s dive in…
I was grabbing food before heading to my gate at Dallas Love Field when I heard shouting. By the time I walked over, three police officers were standing between two women: an older white woman and a younger Latina girl next to her grandmother.
The white woman accused the girl of shoving her while deplaning. The girl (and multiple witnesses) said it never happened. But then the white woman made a comment that stopped me cold: she told the cops they should believe her because she’d “never been arrested”. She turned to the girl and asked in an unmistakable tone if she had a criminal record.
She said the quiet part out loud - we all knew what she was inferring.
The woman then demanded an apology or threatened to press charges. The girl, clearly scared, apologized while maintaining she’d done nothing wrong. The woman decided the apology wasn’t good enough and insisted she wanted to move forward with charges.
To my surprise, the officers told her that since all the witnesses supported the girl’s version of events, if she insisted on pressing charges, she could also be treated as a suspect for filing a false report. That’s when the white woman exploded: calling the cops lazy, accusing them of not doing their jobs, saying they didn’t deserve their badges.
These weren’t security guards. These were Dallas police officers. And the sheer audacity it takes to scream at armed city cops - without a shred of fear - says everything about the kind of power she perceived herself to hold.
I had been watching this exchange unfold for several minutes and approached the grandmother, who was closest to me, to ask if they needed help. The grandmother had limited English capacity and pointed me to the girl. I approached her gently and also asked if she was okay, if she wanted me to intervene or record on my phone. She thanked me but declined both stating that she was afraid it would escalate an already tense situation, so I just stayed with her until my flight boarded.
We watched this women have a public and unapologetic meltdown in front of three police officers and a full gate of travelers. This is the kind of behavior - this weaponization of white womanhood - that make spaces unsafe for all women and undermines every movement for justice.
Let’s be so for real, if there weren’t witnesses, or if the cops weren’t fair, this could’ve gone really badly for this girl. And even if this white woman had been bumped…in a crowded space…while a whole plane is trying to disembark, what kind of person decides that’s worth potentially ruining a young woman’s life over?
This country is starved for empathy. It’s starved for compassion. And white women - myself included - have got to start showing up better. Because if we’re not working to dismantle white supremacy within ourselves, then we’re not part of the solution either.
In rage and solidarity,
Eve
How This Affects You
Reproductive justice isn’t just about abortion—it’s about creating a world where all people, especially young women of color, can move freely, safely, and with dignity.
Racism weaponized by white women is not an isolated incident. It’s a recurring threat that gets ignored or minimized, often by the very people who claim to stand for equality.
Our movements fail when whiteness comes first. Feminism without anti-racism is just another tool of oppression.
False accusations have real consequences. For the girl in this story, the accusation could have led to arrest, legal fees, or worse. That’s how systemic racism operates—in moments that seem “minor,” but aren’t.
What You Can Do
If you find yourself witnessing a public discriminatory encounter and feel safe doing so, here are steps you can take to help:
Be prepared. Join local bystander intervention trainings. Organizations Right To Be have free online webinars that discuss Bystander Intervention techniques and offer tools to safely intervene when witnessing harassment or discrimination.
Be extra aware of the people around you, especially your Black and Brown friends, neighbors, coworkers, and fellow travelers. You may be the only one who sees what’s happening, and your presence matters.
Deescalate if you can. If you feel calm and safe enough to intervene, try diffusing the situation with a steady voice or redirection. Even just standing nearby can change the dynamic.
Record the incident. If you don’t want to get directly involved, or you are involved and want backup, pull out your phone. You are legally allowed to record in most public spaces (excluding bathrooms or private areas with a reasonable expectation of privacy). Video evidence can be critical in protecting someone from false accusations or abuse.
Give a witness statement. If the police get involved, stick around to share what you saw. You might be the only voice confirming the truth, especially if others walk away, stay silent, or can’t safely speak up.
Stay with the person being targeted. Ask if they want company. You don’t have to know them to stand beside them. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply not leave someone alone. Community is built moment by moment.
Follow their lead. Always ask the person being targeted what they need. Don’t assume. Center their safety and dignity rather than your sense of heroism.
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