UN lawyer & ex-Miss Jamaica says she was ‘brutalized’ by Dutch police after walking red light
30-year-old lawyer and former Miss Jamaica-US Chaka Laguerre says that she was “brutalized” by police on her way to work. Dutch police were quick to respond and will file a complaint to the International Court of Justice, where Laguerre works.
The lawyer described the incident in a Facebook post, access to which has now been restricted.
Laguerre – aka “Chaka Shakira” on Facebook – said that at 9:30am on Tuesday, she was cycling to work and went to a spot where she felt unsafe due to “cars making right turns.”
“Therefore, to move myself to safety, I quickly walked my bicycle across the street to get out of the way.”
Things could have ended there, but then a police car made a U-turn and parked in front of her, with two policemen starting to speak in Dutch, which the woman does not understand.
Officers asked for her ID and told her she was under arrest.
“I asked them why I was under arrest, and I told them that I did not travel with my US or UK passports but showed them my ICJ badge ID and explained that I am a lawyer working at the International Court of Justice. I also had my Dutch identity card that was issued to me from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that gives me a status in this country,” Laguerre wrote, according to media reports.
That did not satisfy the officers, however, who allegedly pushed the woman against the car and started “aggressively pulling on and bending” her arms. There was also a struggle in the car, and Laguerre cried as they went to the police station.
“I am sharing my experience because I want people of color to know that we must continue to fight, not merely for our right to live as dignified human beings and our right to bodily integrity, but so our children can live in a society where they no longer have to feel hopeless and afraid. This is why I became a lawyer,” former Miss Jamaica-US Laguerre said.
© Chaka Shakira / Facebook
Following her Facebook post, the Dutch Police were quick to respond, issuing a statement expressing concern over Laguerre’s “dangerous traffic behavior.” She was eventually charged with not showing her identity documents when requested to do so, and not for the original offense. A complaint will be filed to the International Court of Justice against the woman.
The statement goes on to say that any accusations of “brutalization” and “racist and violent police action” are “completely unfounded.”
According to the police, Laguerre was fined for not a having her ID with her. Every person in the Netherlands is required to carry their ID with them starting from the age of 14. After failing to produce her ID, Laguerre reportedly “wanted to run away,” the statement added.
Afterwards, the woman “repeatedly tries to escape from the officers’ grip by tearing away. She also tries to tackle one of the officers with her legs whilst shouting at bystanders.”
Finally, the officers managed to put one handcuff on the woman, and that’s how she was taken to the police station.
Police say that they have CCTV footage of the entire incident and that Laguerre was held for an hour and twenty minutes.
Dem country yah hav a bag a camera, so I’m sure they’ll put out a footage of what happened!
We as black people have to be extremely careful in foreign countries, they may smile wit you, but never you trust dem 100%
Neverrrrr…. an mi not going inna nobody country weh mi caan speak not even a ounce a dem language
I wish her well, and I hope what she claims is correct, because if she is lying this will not look good for her future, especially with the work she does. When you inna strange man land best to make yourself as invisible as possible, as a person in the legal field the onus is on you to know the country’s laws in and out, when di average Joe can claim ignorance, what will be your excuse.
Because of the work she I’m sure she knows better ok.
saving my judgement & comments until I see the video!!!
The CCTV has been reviewed by several media houses and they corroborate the police’s counter-claim that she lied. The police are considering suing her for defamation. She has since removed her Facebook post and admitted the lie. She is in a world of trouble. She behaved badly, tarnished Jamaica’s image and exposed Jamaicans to ridicule and some nasty comments. Very sad because the Dutch seem to have a “soft spot” for Jamaicans and, generally, love our culture. She is a disgrace to Jamaica and her chosen profession. Btw, she is a past Ms. Jamaica US. It’s really unfortunate that she so lacks character since she seems to be extremely academically inclined and highly educated.
Latest: http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2017/01/international-court-apologies-to-police-over-interns-racism-arrest-claim/
I anticipated that this would have been the outcome.
I don’t even have words for this fckry. Nutten more than she was on a darn ego trip. She was feeling herself thinking her position put her in a place to talk down to others and act up, completely forgetting that she is an alien in di ppl dem country. Just humble yourself and apologize, if dem a bring you to the station quietly go and sort out yourself discreetly since you work fi high profile place. Look pon di international disgrace she bring down on herself now over something easily resolved. Girl, a drop of wisdom far more valuable than any paper you can hang on the wall or any amount a money you can have. Seek wisdom while you young and it can still be found.
can you imagine if America required everyone over 14 to carry an identification card! this is some big brother shit one place mi nah guh i have heard from other blacks mainly from Aruba who have gone their for schooling and experience their racist system. its a world wide problem these people act like black people are the worst thing on earth.
Is their territory dem free fi be themselves. Blacks keep running to these places (she’s there because of work assignment) and expect equal treatment. Spain, Portugal, america, Dutch (not all of neatherland territories) Belgium/germans and french ALL benefited from slavery….,
I think she lying, worst if that Sudanese, female parliament member don’t side wid her and cctv say otherwise. Damn fool alarmist.
Believe it or not there are many countries where you are required to travel with ID at all times. It not as strange as you believe. With what is going on in JA right now, this may not be a bad idea.
Any country that participated in the slave trade will have racism against blacks.
America is one such place as simple as people take it. State issued ID IS an everyday must.
She was not mistreated. The traffic camera footage has been shown to the media by the police and it shows the woman wilfully ignoring the remarks of the police as she crosses the street through a red light, almost getting herself killed by a passing bus!
After wilfully ignoring the remarks of the police, she is stopped and asked for her ID, which she cannot produce, hence she is fined for not carrying an ID, after that, it is HER that loses her shit, so after losing her shit, she is taken away to the police station.