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Darren Martin Former Obama Staffer

In this world, being Black can get you in trouble for no reason especially for the craziest things like getting the cops called on you for going into your own apartment.

Darren Martin, a former staffer during the Obama presidency, was moving into his new apartment in the upper west side of New York when 6 police officers came up to him answering a call of a possible break-in, according to Blavity

Immediately Martin pulled his phone out and started an Instagram live stream. “I’m in my apartment but you know – you can’t go nowhere without the cops following me,” explained Martin in the stream.

Apparently, a neighbor called police accusing Martin of breaking into the apartment. However, they didn’t realize that Martin would be their new neighbor. According to Pix 11 News, Martin says that Friday was the only day that he could move in.

Martin worked for the Obama administration and was looking forward to moving back to New York. However, this was not the welcome back he was looking for.

“Somebody called the cops on me in my own building,” he told his followers. “About how many are Y’all? About six of Y’all showed up, rolled up on me.”

An officer in the video can be seen smirking as Martin continues to voice his frustration. Another officer turns the volume up on his radio so that a description of the call could be heard.

“Somebody was trying to break in the door” with “a possible weapon,” the dispatcher said. That weapon that dispatcher described was a key.

Martin described the whole ordeal as an effect of gentrification and institutionalized racism.

“As a black man when you’re in an all-white environment, you’re cognizant of that,” said Martin. “I have to say I found it kinda symbolic. (It’s) like, welcome to the neighborhood.”

Officers found nothing wrong at the scene and Martin proceeded to sign his lease for one year. He has no plans of leaving. “The broader message to everyone is get to know folks before you make these assumptions,” he said. “When you make that call there’s no turning back and it could have ended very differently.”

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(Source: Blavity)

(Photo Credit: Pix 11 News)