Dee Thomas recalls his very first encounter with the police in Pontiac, Michigan, when he was just 12 years old. He and his friends were on their way to play video

Dee Thomas recalls his very first encounter with the police in Pontiac, Michigan, when he was just 12 years old. He and his friends were on their way to play video games at his house after being at the Boys and Girls Club all morning and most of the afternoon when they were stopped by local police officers in a patrol car.

The officer driving the vehicle hops out and asks, “So what are guys up to?” My friends are shook, I take the lead and respond, “We’re leaving from the Boys and Girls Club and about to play video games at my house.” The other officer, now out of the vehicle, responds, “Bullshit! We got a call saying that five Black kids are running around breaking into houses.” With confusion, I responded, “We were at the Boys and Club today all day long.” The cop I’m speaking to came over to me and says, “You got a smart trap.” He proceeds to yank me off my bike. This man who was white and in his early 30s is literally throwing a defenseless 105-pound 12-year old on the ground. My friends dart off in terror. The other cop, Latino in his mid-30s says, “Hey, relax we only want to ask you some questions.”