Homecoming Police Spotting
Did You See All the Police During Homecoming This Year? Well here's what we saw.
Friday night, October 25 (11:50 PM):
The first Friday of homecoming week this year. This video is taken in the Pockets parking lot. I am walking towards Pockets from my parked car, when a police PA system calls out; "You are trespassing. Please leave the area. This area is under video surveillance and you have been recorded."
Same night, Saturday October 26 (12:11 AM):
As you can see, the majority of patrons this evening at Pockets are black.
Same night, Saturday October 26 (2:17 AM):
At the intersection of Adams and FAMU Way. The let out is well under way. People are hanging out and enjoying themselves. Compare this video to the below exactly one week later.
One week later, Saturday November 2 (1:17 AM):
At the same intersection of Adams and FAMU Way. This shopping plaza at the heart of Southside’s business district, is now owned by Adam Kaye, the owner of Railroad Square (called Railroad Crossings). You can see that due to the police presence, there are significantly less people, although this is homecoming weekend. Other common “let out” parking lots are cordoned off by the police.
Same night, Saturday November 2 (2:03 AM):
At the Waffle House on Tennessee Street. Waffle House is the unofficial after-party of any HBCU homecoming. I attended ASU homecoming this year and stayed in the Waffle House parking lot until around 4:30 AM before moving to the next party location. Here you can see the Waffle House parking lot is sparse, hardly anyone is hanging out. There are three police cars and several officers outside.
Same night, Saturday November 2 (2:06 AM):
The Whataburger on Tennessee Street. This is a popular weekend meeting place for FSU students. It is visibly filled to the brim with students. There are no police to be seen.
Same night, Saturday November 2 (2:09 AM):
The McDonalds on Tennessee Street, an iconic Florida State venue is in full swing this Halloween weekend, doing its thing. There is one police car in the parking lot, an FSU PD car drives by. The crowd, the culture, are not affected by the presence of police.
Same night, Saturday November 2 (2:40 AM):
A police car deters visitors from Jack McLean Park.
“Next” day, Saturday November 2 (3:42 PM):
Three state troopers are parked outside of New Life Methodist Church on South Monroe Street.
“Next” day, Sunday, November 3 (1:32 PM):
Three police cars are parked outside of the Marathon gas station on Adams Street. Boston Richey filmed his music videos for The Type (2023) and Help Me (2024) at this gas station, once a let-out “mecca”
Same day, Sunday November 3 (1:33 PM):
Eleven police cars are seen at the Piggly Wiggly parking lot, the most well-known Southside “be outside” spot.
It’s true, that if preventative measures are not taken, homecoming festivities can turn violent. We saw that during Albany State’s homecoming this year when 19-year-old De’Marion Tashawn Daniels lost his one and only life during what was meant to be a night of celebration.
However, we must rethink our approach to policing on the Southside and in Black neighborhoods everywhere. The targeted and excessive policing of Black public spaces, combined with gentrification, is a recipe for the erasure of culture.
TLDR; “It’s upsetting me and my homegirl, cause we feel like damn, if you can’t go to the Piggly Wiggly parking lot, where the hell could you go?” IYKYK.
Rest in Peace, De’Marion.