A frivolous arrest

A woman kisses her husband. This rather regular action takes place on a regular day at a regular street. They are both wearing mainstream clothes. She's dressed in t-shirt, shorts and running shoes. However, the street where the kiss happens is located in the United States of America. And the woman happens to be an Afro-American, while her husband happens to be a white American. Somebody calls the cop.

A few minutes later, while she's talking on the phone with her father, the cops show up. They accuse her of being a prostitute, demand proof of identity, and handcuff her so violently that her wrist starts bleeding. That's what happens when an interracial couple dares to kiss in public. The police does not make any official record of the event, since they release her after a while without filing any charges against her.

Since the police does not keep tracks of such events, and most victims won't report it or speak out in public, we have no way of knowing how often scenes like this takes place in for example America. As for the specific hypothetical scenario, it has been inspired by a reportedly identical real case.

Before we look into at what foci, facets and abstractions are actually present in this case, lets have a look at a facet that is most likely NOT present in the case: The facet of illegal discrimination. Why is this facet not present? Surely it would be illegal to harass and handcuff a married woman for kissing her husband? Especially if it is racially motivated, as a way of cracking down on interracial couples? Sure, but only if you can prove that this was what was going on. The cops claim that they suspected her of being a prostitute, and the law does not forbid harassment against sex workers. On the contrary, laws against sex work encourages the police to harass any couple who they feel might be suspicious. As well as encouraging random strangers to call the cops on any... (will write more later)