George Jojo Boateng, Ghanaian PhD student in Switzerland Recounts how he was mistaken for a Criminal.
Ghanaian PhD candidate at ETH Zürich in Switzerland was recently mistaken for a criminal because of his complexion.
According to the gentleman, he was stopped in the middle of the road and searched thoroughly like he was a suspect. Many social media users have been sympathizing with Jojo for having gone through that experience and giving him hope and support.
George Jojo Boateng, believed what experienced is a racism attack on him simply because he is black on their land.
He recounted the incident as it happened to him which has left many social media users heartbroken. Narrating the story on his social media handles, said he was in Geneva at the time when two police officers suddenly besieged him. “While walking on a sidewalk in Geneva, minding my own business, I noticed 2 police officers rushing towards me from the other side of the street,” he started.
Read his full post on Facebook:
This is what a potential criminal looks like, at least per the 2 White Swiss police officers that humiliated me today.
While walking on a sidewalk in Geneva, minding my own business, I noticed 2 police officers rushing towards me from the other side of the street.
I panicked and stopped walking. I was scared about being the next hashtag. I could feel my heart beast so fast throughout the encounter.
They started interrogating me while one scrutinized my passport and the other took my bag and search all the zips.
While this happened, a white person walked past us on the same sidewalk wasnt stopped, searched or interrogated.
At the end, they said Im good to go.
It was awful and humiliating!
And when I tried to find out why this happened, they were like this neighborhood isnt safe and I shouldnt walk around here but somewhere else.
If that place isnt safe and Im being interrogated, rather than being protected, I guess they saw me as a potential criminal that had to be stopped.
This isnt the first time something like this happened but its the worse one.
If I get a matching career opportunity in a different country where I can live with more peace of mind as a Black man, I will leave Switzerland!
I deserve to live my life and pursue my dreams with dignity.
The Time News 