In light of the national outrage over two recent grand jury decisions not to indict white police officers in the deaths of unarmed black men, many people voiced their frustrations with the justice system on Twitter using the hashtag #CrimingWhileWhite.

White Twitter users participated in the discussion, which began on Wednesday, to confess to crimes that they got away with, presumably because they are white. This was done to highlight the sharp contrast that minorities feel when dealing with police due to racial discrimination in the justice system.

Most recently, Michael Brown, 18, was shot after a white cop in Ferguson caught him jay walking, and Eric Garner, 43, was accused of selling untaxed cigarettes before a white officer choked him to death.

The hashtag began on Wednesday after a professional writer for Jimmy Fallon posted a tweet Wednesday ridiculing white privilege, reports the Washington Post.

"Busted 4 larceny at 11. At 17, cited for booze + caught w gun @ school. No one called me a thug. Can't recommend being white highly enough," wrote Jason Ross, encouraging other white people to share similar stories.

The hashtag quickly took off as thousands of other Twitter users admitted that police let them get away with driving drunk, smoking marijuana, shoplifting or driving without a license, notes the New York Times.

"A friend locked keys in car. Friendly cop unlocked door, ignoring pot fumes and pipe on seat. She was driving w/out licence, but lied & said she left it at home. Cop apologized for asking for it, sent us on our way," tweeted Dave Bonta under the handle @morningporch with the hashtag in two tweets.

Likewise, Jason Prado posted his story.

"Someone in my family was caught shoplifting with friends. Several of them ran and none got shot," he wrote.

Critics, however, pointed out that the hashtag was actuall another example of white privilege and a distraction from larger issues like racial bias and inequality.

Others said that the hashtag gave people the opportunity to become self-absorbed and confessional.

"#WhitePrivilege is even when you expose your criminal-self in #CrimingWhileWhite, whiteness won't allow you to be seen as a criminal," argued @LeftSentThis in a tweet.

Another critic, Franchesca Ramsey, wrote, "I just hope ppl contributing to #CrimingWhileWhite are vocal about these disparities offline. great, you're trending but we need action."

"I know it was well-intentioned," said Jamilah Lemieux, a senior digital editor at Ebony magazine. "For white people to say, 'Hey, these are all the things I've gotten away with'- it starts feeling more hurtful than productive."

Related