New York City's Commission on Human Rights has launched an investigation into the verbal dispute between a white woman with an unleashed dog and a black man bird watching in Central Park.

The commission has sent a letter of inquiry to the woman involved, requesting her cooperation in a pre-complaint intervention.

"At a time when the devastating impacts of racism in Black communities have been made so painfully clear-from racial disparities in COVID-19 outcomes, to harassment of essential workers on the frontlines-it is appalling to see these types of ugly threats directed at one New Yorker by another," said Sapna V. Raj, Deputy Commissioner of the Law Enforcement Bureau at the NYC Commission on Human Rights in a statement.

"Efforts to intimidate Black people by threatening to call law enforcement draw on a long, violent and painful history, and they are unacceptable," the statement continued. "We encourage Ms. Cooper to cooperate with the Commission and meaningfully engage in a process to address the harm that she has caused."

The agency sent Amy Cooper, the white woman who called police, a letter -- a pre-complaint intervention -- the first step in its investigation. She has five days to respond to the letter or the next step could be litigation.

Raj believes Cooper's actions violated Christian Cooper, the black man who was birdwatching, his human rights. The commission is seeking restorative justice.

More details: https://7ny.tv/2M2stnj

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