Cardin, other Dems introduce a bill to end racial profiling

[Mass]

http://www.thebaynet.com/news/index.cfm/fa/viewstory/story_ID/24476

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Homeland Security Subcommittee, Thursday introduced the End Racial Profiling Act of 2011(S. 1670), a bill to prohibit the use of racial profiling by law enforcement. U.S. Rep. John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee plans to introduce companion legislation in the House of Representatives. Senator Cardin’s bill is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL),Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Kerry (D-MA), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Carl Levin (D-MI), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). The End Racial Profiling Act has been endorsed by The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and more than 50 civil and legal rights organizations.
"Racial profiling is bad policy, but given the state of our budgets, it also diverts scarce resources from real law enforcement. Law enforcement officials nationwide already have tight budgets. The more resources spent investigating individuals solely because of their race or religion, the fewer resources directed at suspects who are actually demonstrating illegal behavior," said Senator Cardin. "Racial profiling has no place in modern law enforcement. The vast majority of our law enforcement officials who put their lives on the line every day handle their jobs with professionalism, diligence, and fidelity to the rule of law. However, Congress and the Justice Department can and should still take steps to prohibit racial profiling and finally root out its use.”
“One of the Constitutional principles that Americans hold most dear is the right of every person to equal protection under the law,” said Senator Durbin, Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights. “The practice of racial profiling stands in stark contrast to that principle and should end. It is an ineffective policy that has no place in law enforcement or counterterrorism and border security efforts. I am proud to join Senator Cardin in introducing legislation that will help put an end to this ineffective and discriminatory practice.”
“Despite strong evidence that racial profiling is ineffective and unproductive, its use has actually expanded after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the context of counterterrorism; fighting drug trafficking and other ‘street-level’ crimes; and in efforts to enforce immigration laws,” said Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “Racial profiling makes us all less safe, by distracting law enforcement from the pursuit of individuals who pose serious threats to security. We urge Congress to pass ERPA and take this critical step toward ending racial profiling in America.”

[babylonsister]

1. It's a shame this is even necessary, but it is. Good on them! nt