CNN's Michaela Pereira repeatedly questioned 'Django Unchained' actress Daniele Watts about why she refused to give her ID to police after she was approached by two officers last Thursday.
Watts claimed that she was unjustly detained after the police showed up at her car where she was kissing her white boyfriend and reportedly mistook her for a prostitute. Watts refused to hand over her ID because she felt that there was nothing wrong with "showing affection, fully clothed, in a public place."
This seemed to cause Pereira some concern.
"I think some people might not understand why you wouldn't just easily give them your ID and let them carry on their way and you on yours," she told Watts.
"I think that a country that calls itself the land of free and the home of the brave, if I'm within my amendment rights, my constitutional rights to say no, unless you're charging me with a crime I will not be giving you my ID," Watts replied. "That is a right that I stand up for because of the shoulders that I stand on, because of the people who fought so hard for their rights that came before me."
But Pereira continued to push back, noting that California police "are permitted" to ask for identification if they have some reasonable suspicion. She asked again, "Do you regret just not handing him your ID now?"
Watts explained her reasoning, once more:
"It was a gift and a blessing that I had the opportunity to do that because now there's some kid going through the same thing that doesn't have the same opportunity to talk to the news the way that I do, and that kid can watch this and go, 'ya know what, I don't have to be afraid of police officers anymore because I live in a country that says that we're free."
"But again," Pereira pushed. "The ACLU generally advises people that the best course of action is to give the police your ID."
Then, without giving Watts a chance to respond, Pereira thanked her guests and abruptly ended the interview.
Watch the video to see the full exchange.