cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/57909957
“I’m serious as a heart attack,” he tells Gamble when the audio begins to play on the 14-minute body camera video. “I’m not gonna sit here and argue with you.”
He demands to know how she could possibly justify such an obscene display: “I would like to hear how you would explain to my children what you’re supposed to be.”
Talking to a colleague over his two-way radio after the encounter, Babb described what happened. Gamble was dressed “like a freakin’ weiner,” he says on the tape, so he ordered her to remove the costume. She refused, invoking her First Amendment rights.
“Am I being detained?” Gamble repeatedly asks Babb, who ignores the question and continues to scold her. “If I’m not being detained, I’m gonna go ahead and leave.”
When she turns to walk away, Babb steps forward and grabs her costume from behind, throwing her on her back. Angry protesters shout at Babb as he forces her to turn over. Two more cops help him pin Gamble on the grass and handcuff her.
“By the time I got there, the cops were stuffing an inflatable penis in the back of their car,” Rae said.
It was, on one hand, hilarious — a slapstick comedy bit brought to life. In the body camera footage, Babb tries and fails to fit Gamble into his own backseat, then hands her off to another officer, who escorts her to a different vehicle. Police wrestle with the oversized costume, ultimately failing to fit the unwieldy polyester penis into the car.
It was also disturbing. Gamble screams in pain in the video as the cops try to push her into the backseat, the handcuffs digging into her wrists. Babb asks where the zipper is and, as he peels off the penis suit, asks Gamble for her name.
She replies, “Aunt Tifa.”
“THE CHILDREN. THINK OF THE CHILDREN. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO EXPLAIN WHAT YOU ARE TO THE CHILDREN!?!?”
Maybe you shouldn’t have kids if you can’t explain to them what a penis is.
It’s that deeply-rooted Catholic body shame.
Fact is, approximately 50% of children have a penis all of their own.
Fact is, for many of those kids, it’s their favorite play toy.
Fact is, 100% of kids have at least one biological parent who has, or was born with, a penis.
Fact is, if they live with said parent, there’s a very significant chance that they’ve seen it (in innocent, non-sexual scenarios).
Fact is, if they have seen said penis, they likely have commented on how large it is. Usually in a public restroom, for the amusement of all other patrons.
Because fact is, an important rite of passage for any dad, is being out at a mall/store, alone with the kids, and suddenly needing to take a massive shit.
And fact is, my wife, who I love dearly, has grown more penises than I will ever have.