An Argument Against Racial Profiling by Police

Just what is racial profiling? Racial profiling is a law enforcement and security agency practice that encourages officers to stop, search, and investigate people based on race, ethnicity, nationality or religion. While racial profiling is most commonly committed against ethnic minorities, many instances of racial profiling occur in reaction to specific crimes, making any racial or cultural group subject to more intensive scrutiny by the authorities. (ebscohost.com) This is what I think bout racial profiling, it like it occurs when the police targets someone for investigation on the basis of that person's race, national origin, or ethnicity. Examples are the use of race to determine which drivers to stop for minor traffic

Racial profiling remains a dormant issue in the United States. It is the act of the authority, mostly, police officers linking minority status to criminal behaviour (Glover, 2007). Several police officers in the United States target specific groups because they don’t display characteristics of typical Caucasian individuals (Glover, 2007). To put history into context, before 9/11, not many police officers profiled individuals based on their ethnic backgrounds but after the attack, there was an increase in racial profiling (Harris, 2006). A racial profiling method that became prevalent in the 1980s in the United States was administered by the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration. Operation Pipeline was a program that they launched to help police officers catch drug traffickers (Harris, 2006). In a video, they taught police officers to look for clues that would help them recognize criminals. It was noticed that police officers made a majority of stops to people with Hispanic last names (Harris, 2006). Marshall Frank, a former police officer was asked what police officers should do if they saw an African man driving around a white community. Frank responded by stating that the police officers should stop the vehicle and investigate the reason to why he was there even if there was no occurrence of a crime (Harris, 2006).

One of the most imminent threats looming within American society is race relations. America is a melting pot of different races, cultures, and religions, yet the matter of racial profiling still remains prominent today. By definition it is considered “an activity carried out by enforcers of the law wherein they investigate or stop any individual in traffic or round up people of the same race or ethnicity for crime suspicion” (NYLN.org ). This profiling has become a significant catalyst in the tension that has been ensuing between minorities and the government. Hostility has grown due to the apparent and intentional targeting of “brown people”, and

What is racial profiling? The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) defines racial profiling as “the discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individual’s race, ethnicity, religion or national origin” (2005). Do not confuse racial profiling with criminal profiling; criminal profiling is usually practiced by police in which they use a group of characteristics that are associated with crime to target individuals (ACLU, 2005). Examples of racial profiling include using ones race to target specific drivers for traffic violations and pedestrians for illegal contraband; another prime example is the targeting of Muslims, Arabs, and South Asians since 9/11 in

The concept of racial profiling has its wide range of definitions. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, racial profiling means “the discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individual 's race, ethnicity, religion or national origin.” In other words, racial profiling has its assumptions that particular individuals are more likely to be involved in transgression or unlawful activities based on individual’s race or background. Racial profiling does not just exist today; it thrives and mostly propels a brutalizing message and inhuman misconception to citizens of the United States whom they are pre-judged by the color of their skin. The primary cause of profiling is racism or race-related discrimination. Unfortunately, this unwarranted approach is now commonly used by law enforcement officers, even though it could be both unjust and unconstitutional. Not only does it violate the core principles of this country, but it can be dangerous and deadly because it threatens our privacy and security. It is also a threat to racial equality, where many influential and prominent people have fought for to accomplish. Although many heroic activist leaders have ended racial division to its certain extent, yet many African-Americans all over America still face the rigid unequal world because of unjustifiable race-related tragedies that tremendously affects African-Americans.

Hypothesis: The events of September 11th has caused racial profiling, a practice that was vilified by many just months ago, to become a common and accepted practice used by the government, airline officials, police agencies, and the American public. Profiling has also become a necessary tool used to prevent further terrorist attacks on the United States.

Racial profiling is a controversial and illegal practice in which an individual is targeted solely because of their race, ethnicity, or religion. This practice has been around for hundreds of years dating back to the beginning of slavery and still goes on today. Racial profiling comes in many forms and can be done by police officers, business owners or employees, airport security, or even regular citizens. Muslims, Hispanics, and African Americans are the usual targets of racial profiling. Muslims are usually labeled as terrorists, Hispanics are labeled as illegal immigrants, and African Americans are labeled as gang members.

Racial profiling involves using a person’s race in order to suspect them of doing something wrong or committing a crime. Racial profiling has been around for decades and has not went away. Law enforcement or people of authority use it in order to decide whether or not a person is suspicious. Racial profiling clearly goes against the fourth amendment right of no unreasonable search and seizure but has yet to be put to an end.

The topic of racial profiling is very prominent in our American society. I witness accounts of it every day, whether it is while going through an airport, reading about crime, and it’s heavily influenced within the world of politics. Racial profiling is a way for law enforcement to target certain individuals that are suspected of committing a crime. This involves race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, etc. The act of racial profiling allows law enforcement to alienate certain communities, which, in turn creates racial divides and demonstrates a “militarization” of the police. Not only that, racial profiling is heavily influenced within American society through politics and the use of media.

Racial profiling is the act of suspecting or targeting a person of a certain race based on a stereotype about their race. Racial profiling occurs twice as much for minorities,such as Latinos,African Americans and Arabs,than it does to White Americans. Racial profiling has led to many disputes around the United States and now racial profiling is commonly used by hundreds and thousands of people around the country.

“Racial profiling' refers to the practice by law enforcement officials of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on the

Racial profiling is a very important issue that individuals in society face every day. This problem occurs in low income or poverty-stricken areas throughout cities and communities across the nation. Hundreds of anecdotal testimonials allege that law enforcement officials at all levels of government are infringing upon the constitutional rights and civil liberties of racial and ethnic minorities through a practice called “racial profiling (Ward, 2002). So what is racial profiling? According to the National Institute of Justice, racial profiling by law enforcement is commonly defined as a practice that targets people for suspicion of crime based on their race, ethnicity, religion or national origin (National Institute of Justice, 2013). The

Racial profiling is a severe discrimination in contradiction of certain ethnic groups, that police officers tend to use on persons of their interest. Opposing to general belief, racial profiling by police officers can occur anytime and anywhere. It is important for people to recognize that racial profiling is discourteous to the individuals who are profiled and it is a crime. People should not be profiled just because of the color of their skin or race. Racial profiling by police officers has developed into one of the greatest controversial practices commonly used suspecting or unsuspectingly in police departments. Police officers are supposed to protect and serve the people, not profile the people. Racial profiling by police officers is wrong and it does exist in all states, but however others may believe racial profiling by police officers does not exist.

Racial profiling is when someone’s race is used by law enforcement to assume criminal suspicions (Spagnoli, Filip). Law enforcement has used racial profiling to “help” prevent criminal activity. For instance, a survey done by the department of justice when officers focused more on African-American and Latino drivers they found that less of them had drugs the when they least focused on white drivers (The Truth About Racial Profiling: FIVE FACTS). Some officers assume that Hispanics and African-Americans are carrying around illegal substances and weapons. This is not always true! As the survey revealed, most of the people who did have prohibited items were white Americans. Law enforcement should begin stopping drivers by suspicion not by their race. In another survey done by Ian Ayres and Jonathan Borowsky they had found very similar information. “We also found that, once people were stopped, officers were more likely to frisk, search, or arrest African-Americans and Latinos than whites…when these frisks and searches are substantially less likely to uncover weapons, drugs, or other types of contraband” (Borowsky, Ayres). Officers are spending more time on race than focusing on real criminals who are ousting the reasons why this country is remarkable. Other cases like these have been confirmed as well. “Relative to stopped whites, stopped blacks is 127% more likely and

Before September 11, national polls demonstrated that racial profiling was inefficient and unfair many were against it. “There is now public consensus that racial profiling is a good thing, and in fact necessary for survival” (Volpp, 604). Over hundreds of noncitizens have been put into detention location and refuse to release information on these individuals, but a vast majority of them appear to be Middle Eastern, Muslim or South Asian. The U.S. Department of Justice has engaged in racial profiling of male that are noncitizen between the ages of 18 and 33 from Islamic countries without having significant evidence involvement of terrorist group. Furthermore, airport officials and airlines were also involved in racial profiling against individuals who are Middle Eastern, Arab or Muslim. “Countless men have been kicked off airplanes, because airline staff and fellow passengers have refused to fly with them board, despite U.S. Department of Transportation directives to protect civil rights of passengers” (Volpp, 605). In the years prior to the terrorist attack, national identity was considered both patriotic and multiracial, which represent Americans with cultural origins such as African American, Irish American, and Asian American. Many Middle Eastern or Muslims subject to potential profiling as a matter of safety and a way to demonstrate their loyalty towards the United States. “Whites, African Americans, East Americans and Latinas/os are now deemed safe and not required to prove their allegiance” (Volpp, 606). Racial profiling is clearly a statement towards individuals that are not considered to be part of us. The unifying theme of this week’s readings seems to be how experiences or events could change the