By Micha Green
AFRO D.C. and Digital Editor
mgreen@afro.com
D.C. native and celebrated singer Ari Lennox took to Twitter Monday to share alarming news for her more than seven hundred thousand followers- that she was being arrested.
“They’re arresting me,” the singer first wrote on Twitter, before following up with another disturbing tweet. “I’m being arrested in Amsterdam for reacting to a woman racially profiling me.”
The singer, whose legal name is Courtney Salter, was arrested at Amsterdam Schipol airport on Nov. 29 for allegedly disturbing public order, according to a Reuters article. Dutch military police said the singer accused them of racial discrimination, as is seen in her social media posts.
Before her arrest, Ari Lennox tweeted, “F*$k Amsterdam security. They hate Black people.”
Authorities told Reuters that the singer “had to be taken into custody,” after describing her as a woman “full of emotions, that wouldn’t calm down,”
Once she confirmed she was being arrested on social media, fans and the Twitterverse immediately worked to rescue the artist by sending screenshots of the U.S Embassy in the Netherlands and the U.S. Consulate General in Amsterdam.
Fans of the Dreamville artist, best known for her single and album “Shea Butter Baby,” as well as her new hit, “Pressure,” have been checking in and sending love to the singer since her arrest.
As of Monday evening, it was not clear how much longer the singer would remain in custody as authorities were investigating the incident and allegations made by the artist.
“Free my sista!!!! She ain’t do nothing,” one person wrote.
“Goodness Ari. I just pray for your safety and quick resolution,” another Twitter user wrote.
“Protection and strength over you, beautiful. God’s got you; don’t worry regardless. Peace, love and strength,” someone said replying to the singer’s tweet.
Others immediately sided with Ari Lennox’s allegations of racial profiling after reading the authorities’ word choices behind her arrest.
“The fact that they’re calling her ‘aggressive’ in their statements told me everything I need to know,” one woman tweeted.
Some reports said the singer was drunk and disorderly.
“Of course now they are claiming she is drunk instead of investigating the claim of racial profiling,” another person tweeted before noting the Netherland’s alleged track record with racism. Not the first time I’ve heard about Amsterdam and the Netherlands being racist. Never going there.”
Others are concerned about traveling to Amsterdam after news of the singer’s arrest.
“My wants to plan a trip there. This gives me pause,” one person tweeted.
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