Sheriff: mind if we check anyone else’s bags?

Me: no you aren’t going to do that. You aren’t constitutionally allowed to.

Sheriff: excuse me?

Me: *nervous but loud* sir you don’t have the reasonable articulable suspicion to search and seize the bags of all these passengers when we are pulled over bc of you in an area where we would not reasonably feel free to decline. You can do that but it is a violation of the 4th amendment.

Sheriff: are you a lawyer?

Me: yes.

Sheriff: then show me your attorney card.

Me: *pulls out card*

Sheriff: this is from Minnesota. What you are saying doesn’t apply here.

Me: it’s the constitution. It applies here.

Sheriff: *gives card back, speaks loudly so the back of the bus can hear* didn’t know these buses come with lawyers these days. No bag check. *walks off bus*

Me: *eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it worked in real life!!!!! Hits dance from flawless video*

Get into meeee! Mama, I’m a lawyer!!!!!

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I wrote this in December of 2013. I had only been an attorney for 2 months. I was fresh from the bar exam and all of the ideals and liberties sworn to me by the Constitution. I was on my way on the bus to visit my best friend in Nashville. I didn’t want my stuff searched, or anyone else’s, because frankly, Jess and I had plans to go to Sonic and kick it when I got into town and we were already late. We were pulled over in a walmart lot in the middle of nowhere, Kentucky. That sheriff could have arrested me, taken me to some random county jailhouse, and I would have never been heard from again.

Sandra Bland knew the law and she let that officer know that she knew it. Sometimes, white men in power don’t want to hear the truth from black girls with convinction and we end up beat down, bruised up, hung high.

I forgot all about this interaction until I went for a walk today. And when I remembered, I had to catch my breath. I had to wipe my tears. I had to remind myself to breathe.