The internet exploded in rage upon seeing the disturbing image of Galveston, Texas, police officers on horseback leading a handcuffed Black man by rope down the middle of the street. Both of the officers are white.
The shocking imagery is eerily and painfully reminiscent of slave hunters of the past who would tie up our enslaved ancestors—captured while attempting to escape to freedom—and parade them through town for all to see.
Galveston Police Chief Vernon L. Hale, III has since apologized for any “unnecessary embarrassment” the dehumanizing arrest may have caused 43-year-old Donald Neely, CBS News reports.
Hale admitted that the officers showed “poor judgment” and that they “could have waited for a transport unit at the location of the arrest.”
Additionally, a statement released by the Galveston Police Department claims that while using mounted horses, rope, and handcuffs is “best practice” in some circumstances, the procedure was not used correctly in Neely’s arrest. Apparently, though, there was no other form of transportation available at the time; so, the officers took a mounted joy ride.
So, what exactly was Neely’s crime?
The officers arrested and charged Neely with criminal trespassing. Also, mounting horses and leading handcuffed suspects by rope is just business as usual for Galveston PD.
It should come as no surprise that the violent imagery has evoked anger and hurt in people who have hearts and common sense, including our resident skeptic.
Watch The OverExplainer react to Galveston’s mounted police and their lack of sound and decent judgment in the video above.