Posted on 11/22/2007 6:53:05 AM PST by libs_kma
CHICAGO (CBS) ― U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-7th District) said Wednesday he was the victim of racial profiling.
CBS 2's Mike Parker reports, the congressman insists the only reason he was pulled over by Chicago police is because he is black.
"I hope that this was some kind of isolated instance, but I know in my heart of hearts, I know that it's not," Davis said.
The congressman said he was driving three friends home early Monday morning when two white Chicago police officers pulled him over and said he had swerved over the center line before making a left turn from Kedzie onto Douglas Boulevard.
The congressman was nailed with a $75 ticket and a date in traffic court on Dec. 28. He denies doing anything wrong.
"There was just no reason I could conjure up other than the fact that there were four black people in a car," he said.
Chicago police confirmed that a ticket was issued but said nothing about Davis' allegation that he was singled out for what he calls "driving while black."
A recent survey suggests that 59 percent of African-Americans believe they've been racially profiled in traffic stops by police. The congressman said police need to put an end to it.
"Something needs to happen and it needs to be real. And we're just a better city than that," Davis said.
He intends to fight the ticket he says was "simply wrong."
Davis is calling on city leaders to "bridge the gap" between police and the minority community.
So how do the police get African-Americans to stop believing that? There is no logic in tying the belief to the police.
70% of the population believe in UFO's, NASA needs to put a stop to that.
Show me how these two statements are any different in what they convey or are asking to be accomplished?
Cite a study of video taped traffic without sound, and let an independent panel of judges determine if a car should have been pulled over, and if the color of the driver could have been determined.
This crap is so tiresome. He didn’t get stopped for “driving while black”, he got stopped for driving poorly. The “while black” part was pure happenstance, which can’t be helped, obviously.
Try this experiment: While driving at night, try to make out the race of the driver of the car in front of you. Generally, all you see is a silhouette
He probably ran his plates before he pulled him over and saw who he was and might have recognized him then. You never know who you could catch driving home drunk!
We pay these clowns $183,500 a year.
Hey Congressman ... is “affirmative action” racial profiling?
If not, please explain.
There may be more to this than is being said or printed. Around here, most law enforcement gives warning or verbals to elected officials unless they are actually DUI, get hostile or are out of line during the stop. It may be wrong to give officials a break, but that is what happens so long as they dont make an ass of themselves and they can drive unimpaired.
“Lane weaving” is a common excuse for a stop, but I’ll bet the words “Do you know who I am?” were thrown around pretty freely.
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