AAS Professor arrested for 3-year-old parking ticket, tweets about mistreatment by police

Professor Imani Perry was arrested Saturday morning for an outstanding parking ticket from three years ago, according to tweets she posted on Sunday.Perry, who is the Hughes-Rogers professor of African American studies, tweeted the following:She tweeted the details of her arrest to her ~32,000 followers, including what she experienced as mistreatment at the hands of Princeton police officers:Perry sees her arrest as emblematic of the disproportionate treatment of people of color, in particular women of color, by police officers across America.Responses by Professor Perry's followers were mixed, with many extending support but some criticizing her for not paying the parking ticket. Half an hour later, she followed up by tweeting:Her tweets have been generating a heated debate about race relations and law enforcement in America. This arrest comes amidst a broader conversation across the country about the criminal justice system's approach to people of color and the proportionality of arrests for minor infractions, including speeding tickets and parking fines.Professor Perry was taken into custody Saturday after being stopped for speeding and found to have a suspended license and active warrant for her arrest, according to Princeton Chief of Police Nick Sutter in an email to the University Press Club.The active warrant was for a violation of the Parking Adjudication Act, which states that a judge may suspend the license of a driver who has not paid outstanding parking fines or penalties.Professor Perry has not yet responded to request for comment on the arrest.