Attempted to refute; big difference.
The enemy is dangerous and committed, so I'll try to be discreet with the facts revealed.
I live in a city of well over 200,000 with some neighborhoods more dangerous that others. Even the safer neighborhoods contain or are bordered by pockets of criminally inclined chronically unemployed "families."
Political Correctness has infected every corner of our cities in the last 16 years, at least since the massive "religion of peace" attack.
I also live in a homeowners association community.
My immediate sub-neighborhood reflects the general population ethnicities. We are all alert, having been victims of stolen mail, breakins, stolen cars, recent car hijackings and students mugged for their cell phones and other valuables walking home after school.
There are a half dozen of us who are retired, and home most of the time, and in communication when we see strangers in the alleys alone or in pairs wandering aimlessly around the neighborhood. Most of the time on bicycles, but occasionally in motor vehicles.
Until earlier this year, we could call the police, provide a description, including race, to check, specially during the school year, when presumably all under 18 are presumed to be in school.
Are all of these "explorers" residents of our Homeowners group? I have no idea; I have not met all the 600+ members of our "unit." It is almost certain that most suspicious wanderers are not.
All that changed this year. Now, when the strangers are spotted, we must file a report with the police first, giving information about ourselves, a description of the subjects, but forbidden to mention race or type of clothing. How soon after that there might be a police response (if any) is impossible to determine.
What would you think is the rational response to the new "procedure?" I'll leave that to your imagination.
More to the point of your challenge, what is certain to me, is that when those police reports (if any) are forwarded to the County, the State and ultimately to the FBI, filtered by God knows how many more "politically correct" hands, how useful can it be?
Busy work, a "sensitive" environment, not offensive to any privileged group, invasive to the crime victims, and totally useless as a crime fighting tool.
I can close by saying that I am not surprised that you're confused. I sure am.
If I understand your point, you stand by "At least for the last 20 years, at the federal level, race has been forbidden in crime reports and statistics."
If so, what we have here is a failure to communicate. But, this not being a movie, and me not caring, I bid you adieu.