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People vs. Karen, Part 2: The False Accusation That Launched The #ProsecuteKatie Campaign
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
)
Listen
28:33
People vs. Karen: Part 2
Part 2: When a Latino couple, Sadie and Eddie Martinez, is falsely accused by a white woman of attempted kidnapping, their lives are upended as the accusation goes viral. LAist Correspondent Emily Guerin examines how the police’s investigation takes an unexpected turn and how the dark corners of the internet may have influenced the couple’s accuser. CONTENT WARNING: Sensitive subject matter Support LAist Today: https://LAist.com/donate Go to Hellofresh.com/50imperfect and use code 50imperfect for 50% off plus 15% off the next 2 months! Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live. This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
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."
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:
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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