Near Parrish Street in Durham, North Carolina’s historic Black Wall Street district, a woman appeared to be in distress when EMS workers approached to assist her. She screamed at a Black EMS worker: “Get the f—— out of here, p— a— n———,” using the slur repeatedly. She swung at two EMS workers, both swings missing. Police were called. She resisted arrest and had to be brought to the ground to be handcuffed.
Video circulated on Instagram. No charges were reported as of publication. The incident occurred shortly after Durham welcomed its new police chief, the department’s first Black female chief, who had identified community trust as a top priority. The EMS workers were there because the woman may have needed help. They stayed to do their jobs. She swung at them for it.