With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
People vs. Karen, Part 2: The False Accusation That Launched The #ProsecuteKatie Campaign
Listen
• 28:33
Sadie Martinez and Eddie Martinez stand for a portrait at Upper Noe Recreation Center in San Francisco on Oct. 8, 2023.
(
Pablo Unzueta
/
for LAist
)
Topline:
In 2020, Sadie and Eddie Martinez were falsely accused of attempted kidnapping by a white woman while shopping at a Michaels craft store. Imperfect Paradise: People vs. Karen, is the story of how Sadie held her accuser accountable.
What's in Episode 2: Sadie Martinez launches her #ProsecuteKatie campaign, and a journey to the darker corners of the Internet to understand why Sadie's accuser, Katie Sorensen, may have made her false charge. After the Petaluma Police Department cleared their names, Sadie Martinez held a press conference to call for Katie Sorensen to be prosecuted for her false attempted kidnapping accusation.
Is Katie a "Karen?" : Many people online viewed Katie as a "Karen." Jessie Daniels, a professor at Hunter College, defines a "Karen" as "a white woman who uses her entitlement to call state power down on people of color. It's thinking of 911 as a kind of concierge service that is designed for our comfort."
Support for LAist comes from
Or did Katie engage with conspiracy theories? According to the police, Sorensen was “in significant engagement with QAnon conspiracy theories which tend to center around kidnappers and pedophiles.”
Where can I listen: You can listen to Imperfect Paradise wherever you get your podcasts, or right here:
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases. -
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead. -
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades.
Best of LAist