On December 2nd, 2023, a disturbing video taken by Shikeem Washington was released to the public. The video depicts Sheriff's Deputy Dana Elmore of the Pickens County police force disrespectfully detaining a 24-year-old Black man by the name of Micah Washington. This young man was merely attempting to repair a “flat tire” on the side of a backroad and was profiled for being “suspicious.” Deputy Elmore started the unrest by non-routinely requesting Washington and his co-defendants' ID's. After Washington refused the request to stand by her squad vehicle, he ejected his phone from his pocket to record her. This resulted in Elmore grabbing him by the shirt and then tasing him. The shock caused Washington to drop his phone and fall onto his face, which Elmore took as the opportunity to step on and handcuff him. Elmore continued the detaining by frisking the young male on the cold, wet ground before lifting him with one hand and placing him onto the hood of a Pickens County squad car. Seconds later, she is seen pushing a Taser into the back of the suspect and violently retrieving his legally owned handgun. After the suspect verbally apprehends Deputy Elmore for her excessive force, she jams the Taser deeper into his back before shocking him again and cursing him. Officer Elmore even goes as far as to holding his head down and telling him to “shut the f*ck up,” before asking him if he “wants it [the taser] again.”

Micah Washington was freed on December 7, 2023, and is currently with his family. He was booked in Pickens County Jail on 5 counts including resisting arrest, possession of marijuana, obstructing government operations, trafficking fentanyl, and being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm, along with a $500,000 bond. This is all according to ABC 33/40 news.

Washington's detaining is a prime example of the hostile attitude law enforcement has toward Black persons in America and, in this case, its Southern region. In the South, there remain blazing remnants of the racial discrimination that once constituted it and other ”Dixie” south states; South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Arkansas, Virginia, Texas, Kentucky, and Florida. Now that light is being shed on this plight, let's talk about it and put some action forward.