As protesters marched in San Diego Thursday, a conversation was happening on social media involving the hashtag #CrimingWhileWhite - confessions from people who say they were able to get away with crimes because of the color of their skin.
University of San Diego students marched Thursday in protest of recent grand jury decisions in Ferguson, Missouri and New York concerning the killings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner.
The two African American men were both killed in recent confrontations with white police officers.
Garner died July 17 after a chokehold was applied by NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo. Brown, was shot and killed by Officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9 in Ferguson, Missouri.
An eye-opening social media conversation started after the NY grand jury released its decision Wednesday in Garner's death and protests broke out around the country.
Jason Ross tweeted "Busted for larceny at 11. At 17, cited for booze + caught with a gun. No one called me a thug" He then invited other white people to share their stories of unpunished crimes.
Local
Busted 4 larceny at 11. At 17, cited for booze + caught w gun @ school. No one called me a thug. Can't recommend being white highly enough.
— Jason Ross (@jasonjross) December 3, 2014Over 200,000 tweets using #CrimingWhileWhite have been posted.
With San Diegans weighing in, Theresa Seid posted, "I was pulled over for a suspended license 3 times & let go every time. Eventually judge cleared my record."
While at ASU I was pulled over for a suspended license 3 times & let go everytime. Eventually Judge cleared my record. #CrimingWhileWhite
— Theresa Seid (@RockOnMommies) December 4, 2014At the USD protest Thursday, there was mixed reaction to the hashtag.
“It's time for conversation and I think that's one way of being able to engage folks who perhaps aren't quite ready to have conversation,” said USD Professor Erin Lovette-Colyer.
"It's just a whole different insight and very eye opening for us and for a lot of other people who think that white privilege doesn't exist and it does,” said protester Imain Mulzac.
Others say it isn't right.
"They're just basically bragging about the bad things they get away with that people who are minorities wouldn't be able to and it's actually something I'm not taking part,” said Grossmont College student Michelle Macrorie.
Of course, it is social media and there is no way to verify if some of the stories posted under the hashtag are true.
![[NATL] Early Results Show Progress When Police Use Body Cameras](https://ots.nbcwpshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/131013241_10.jpg?fit=3000%2C2001){kind=link}
