What would you think of a group of young black men in tuxes during prom season and when you ask where they are going they say to prom. In the rain they are made to get out of their car onto the ground where they were to lay while the car was being searched. After nothing was found, no apology, no discussion, no prom. 4 young men never even got to go their senior year. No big deal you say? No big deal to you. If they were white they wouldn't have been stopped for doing nothing wrong in the 1st place.
2007-03-08 11:10:39 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Of all the cases where the police have to find a reason after the arrest to have pulled the black person over in the first place how do you deny the fact? There are police departments that purposely and openly use racial profiling. It is a fact.
2007-03-08 11:12:25 · update #1
I heard that story too.
Only you for got to mention that the year before the same school had a shooting at the prom.
Guess who the assailants looked like?
There should have been an apology.
Why don't people ask questions like this: How come black cab drivers don't like to pick up black people?
This isn't a racist question...is it? No, no it can't be...because it's a fact.
2007-03-08 12:53:08 · answer #1 · answered by psych0bug 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The scenario that you painted does sound suspicious. I agree that this may have had some racist overtones to it. But you are saying that police are racist. That is a generalization or stereotyping. Not all police are racist, not all black men are drug dealers-see the example. When you stereotype any group it is being racist or discrimination. ALL are not ... Some are, yes that is true, most are can also be true, most are not, another also may be true, but ALL are cannot be true. Phrasing of a comment, question or answer can make a difference.
If you believe that the police department that you are referring to has a racial problem, then work to change it. Don't be disrespectful, but do get out there and work toward change.
And, yes, it is a big deal that 4 young men did not get to go to the prom. No one should be treated that way for no legitimate reason. The officers should be reported for what happened. But don't lump these officers with all officers.
2007-03-08 12:01:12 · answer #2 · answered by Nancy W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am soo sorry to hear that you missed your prom! THAT SUCKS!
Of course there are racist police...that was known BEFORE RODNEY KING.....
I wish I could give you a big hug....
No words of wisdom here other than maybe you can talk to your mother and see if she can find an attorney to file a grievence.
I doubt that much will happen because most people are scared to do just that but if everyone who was treated like shyt DID file a complaint, the fifth guy would have a case based on some of the things that you and your friends went thru...could be that you get contacted in a few years by anther attorney for a class action lawsuit....
I wish I had a better answer. IT was and IS a big deal and there is nothing that anyone can say to make it less than what it is!
If it was not your senior prom (maybe a junior prom) maybe you can go to the senior prom this year....or maybe while you are in your first year of college, you can keep in touch with some of the underclassmen that you ignored while you were a senior (smile). I know it is NOT the same but it could be a close second!
(any idea why you were stopped other than DWB?)
2007-03-08 11:53:03 · answer #3 · answered by lisa s 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
There's no denying that actions by police such as you describe happen all over the country. There are also racist doctors, plumbers, teachers, bus drivers, and so on. I think the reason you got so many thumbs down is because people don't like generalizations about something so serious. There are many police who are not racist, hopefully more than those who are.
2007-03-08 11:17:55 · answer #4 · answered by Bad Kitty! 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I am white...as I am not in the police circuit..I can not say how they operate...I don't believe that all police would do such a nasty thing as that...but I would believe that there are police in large metropolitans that have become very hardened because of the ugly stuff that they operate in on a daily basis....does that make me sad what happened to you?...Yes...It was unfair...but do not think that unfair things only happen to black people in the world...Do I think that there are those that perpetrate hate towards specifically black people?....Yes...Do I think their are angry people that perpetrate hate towards specifically women?...Yes...Do I think there are hateful people that perpetrate hate towards people that have a different sexual orientation?...Yes...My point is there is and always will be people that hate...I am sorry....It was unfair....but life is never going to be fair....I hope you will not allow this instance to define how you are going to look at life...and how you will approach life. Good luck.
2007-03-08 11:20:32 · answer #5 · answered by ticklemeblue 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
You probably got 3 thumbs down because not all cops are racist. Just like not all white people are racist. Yeah that's very sad what happened to these people but just because it happened to them doesn't mean that it happens to every black person. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time and came in contact with racist police. But it could happen to 4 white guys by black cops too.
2007-03-08 11:20:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 2⤋
No, sorry after years as a officer I new and saw a view times but in general there is always a reason for the stop and the suspesion.
And if all the probable cause was the same, white, red or black they all get stoped
2007-03-08 11:46:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
The victims need to get an advocate. The only way things like that stop is if you make it stop. . . If people did not make a change years ago, white males might be the only people allowed to vote. . .
2007-03-08 11:20:14 · answer #8 · answered by Rocka 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The persons to whom this happend have my sympathy, but they should also file a complaint against the officers, this appears to go too far. Report them! (you did take badge numbers?)
It is a sad thing, but, unfortunately, some of the statistics are on the cops' side and not on the side of equal numbers of whites and other ethnicities getting i trouble with the law.
Also remember that you only have one side of the picture, the cops may have been looking for a similar car and occupants, based on a tip...
2007-03-08 11:27:03 · answer #9 · answered by Don't look too close! 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Let's see.....I've worked with 2 police forces......and the ONLY time we've pulled people over is because they broke the law, in one way or another. Also, most of the time, we don't even know the race of the person until the car is pulled over. So with my experience with the police.....your statement would be false.
2007-03-08 11:47:32 · answer #10 · answered by cajunrescuemedic 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋