If you are a person of color in America, there is a risk that you will be or have been racially profiled. Racial profiling occurs when a law enforcement officer treats one racial group differently (and worse) than they would another.
This might happen in a few ways. The law enforcement agent may:
- Stop the individual
- Search them
- Arrest them
All of this could occur simply because the individual in question belongs to, or is perceived to belong to, a particular racial group.
Why is racial profiling such a big deal?
Racial profiling matters because it heavily impacts communities. A 2019 report from the Pew Research Center said that 59% of Black men and 31% of Black women surveyed believed that they had been unfairly stopped by the police because of their race. This is also true among other communities of color, such as the Hispanic community and some Asian communities.
While most cases of racial profiling don’t end up leading to injuries or death, unfair stops, harassment or questioning of a minority group member is unacceptable.
If you believe that you have been racially profiled, you need to know that there is help available. Whether you’ve been accused of being in a gang, having drugs in your possession or committing any crime because of racial profiling, you can protect yourself. You deserve to be treated fairly. An experienced attorney can help protect your rights.