Does Oklahoma Ban Target Hoods or Hoodies?
By Rod Kackley 2015-01-09T01:08:42
Family Dollar corporate headquarters might wind up agreeing with him. They had no idea the stores had imposed bans on hoodies and promised KMOV-TV there would be an investigation.
Of course, any student of recent cable TV news history realizes this hoodie debate harkens back to the killing of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman. The Florida teenager's hoodie became symbolic of the case, the controversy surrounding his death and Zimmerman's acquittal by a jury.
The hoodie became such a racial and generational symbol that a March 2012 demonstration led by Al Sharpton in honor of Martin was dubbed the "Million Hoodie March."
Fox TV talk show host Geraldo Rivera blamed the hoodie as much as George Zimmerman for Martin's death.
"You have to recognize that this whole stylizing yourself as a gangsta — you're going to be a gangsta wannabe, well people are going to perceive you as a menace. That's what happens," said Rivera. "It is an instant, reflexive action. Every time you see a kid sticking up a 7-11, he's wearing a hoodie."
Rivera later apologized for the remark but added he said it as part of a "life-saving campaign against hoodies."
MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski alluded with righteous indignation to the idea that a hoodie is more than a hood on a sweatshirt when she asked Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) this week if he was familiar with the anti-hoodie legislation (that is actually not anti-hoodie legislation) on the Morning Joe program that she co-hosts.
"Curious, this going on in your state, Oklahoma residents concerned about a proposed bill that would make it a crime to wear a hooded sweatshirt, the hoodies," she said.
"It would, actually, lead to a $500 fine. Have you heard about that and what do you think about it?"
Cole replied that he had not heard about it but did offer an opinion.
"Hey, it gets windy and cold in Oklahoma. There's plenty of times that having a hood would be a smart idea."
Not to worry, Congressman Cole.
Barrington's proposal also exempts those who are seeking protection from the cold from a possible fine and jail sentence for wearing a hood in Oklahoma.
And remember, Sen. Barrington told PJM that even though the word "hood" is included in the legislation, the word "hoodie," is not.
https://pjmedia.com/blog/does-oklahoma-ban-target-hoods-or-hoodies/
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