Prior to 9/11, racial profiling was frequently referred to as 'Driving While Black.' Now the practice can be more accurately characterized as driving, flying, walking, worshipping, shopping, working, breathing, or staying at home while black, brown, red, yellow, and Muslim or of Middle-Eastern appearance.

Everyone needs to understand that no one is exempt from the abuse of law enforcement officials in this country especially since the U.S.A. Patriot Act is now the new law of the land.

Racial profiling is a law enforcement strategy that encourages police officers to stop and question African Americans simply because of the color of their skin. Racial profiling defeats its purpose by fueling mistrust and anger in black communities toward law enforcement because the policy encourages institutionalized racism in police forces nationwide.

Examples of forms of racial profiling includes 'Driving While Black' when millions witnessed the video beating of Rodney King in California and the beating of 16 year old Donovan Jackson also in California. 'Walking While Black' occurred when Abner Louima, a Haitian American immigrant was sodomized with a nightstick in a New York City Police bathroom in 1997 and Archie Elliott of Forestville, MD when he lost his life in 1996 when he was shot 14 times while he was handcuffed in a police vehicle. Everyone watched the video beating of forty-one year old Nathaniel Jones from Cincinnati when he lost his life after police used excessive force against him.

'Flying While Black' occurred when 1300 black women international travelers in Chicago were taken into Customs search rooms and held incognito for hours and told to strip either partially or totally naked and bend over and grab their ankles. Or they were taken to hospitals and shackled to hospital beds for up to four days just so Customs Inspectors could make overtime money. 'Shopping While Black' occurred when department stores such as Dilliard's hire over aggressive security guards who track African American shoppers to parking lots and accuse them of stealing and end up choking the life out of them.

How often do we need to be reminded that each of these forms of racial profiling is major problems in this country?

Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) experienced 'Walking While Black' and what happened to her is just a view of what is yet to come into this country. Reality shows from COPS to Dallas SWAT has continued to make the American people feel comfortable with being aggressively arrested by law enforcement officials. This is all a game plan by the government to prevent any type of resistance when they come after you - and they will come after you.

Police officers whether they are local, state or federal or some type of rental cops have used the U.S.A. Patriot Act to carry out a pattern of abuse against anyone of color particularly women.

Police officers are committing racial profiling and police brutality in many communities everyday. Tons of illegal incidents go unreported because many people fear the police. The police go into mostly white neighborhoods to protect and black neighborhoods to harass. This must change! The American people must be vigilant and persistent and rise up and challenge the practices of all forms of racial profiling and police brutality.

Organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) (www.aclu.org), Amnesty International (www.amnestyusa.org), and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) (www.naacp.org) are often contacted because of illegal acts of racial profiling and police brutality. The community must try to work with these organizations and others. We need to make sure these organizations and others have offices opened in every county in the United States. There must be oversight over law enforcement officials!

It's always good to belong to groups or organizations in case you or a family member become a victim of racial profiling or police brutality. But remember an organization is only as good as its people, so everyone must join an organization and protect themselves by taking a proactive role. Join as many organizations as you can handle. When you become isolated you have no protection. It's always good to have that support system in place.

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Cathy Harris is available for Lectures, Seminars and Workshops.
She is the author of recently released "How To Take Control of Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide to Moving Forward" and soon to be released "The Failure of Homeland In-Security: The Government's Dirty Little Secrets from An Insider." You can order her book off her website at Angels Press, P.O. Box 870849, Stone Mountain, GA 30087, Phone: (800) 797-8663, Fax: (678) 254-5014, Website: http://www.angelspress.com Email: info@angelspress.com The book is available in Atlanta at Oasis, Medu, Nubian, Wisdom Hut bookstores or ask for the book at any bookstore or library.

© May 2006 By Afromerica

Ms. Cathy Harris will be keeping the Black community updated on issues of family, Justice and Law that will strengthen our lives. Visit regularly for new information that could help you pursue a more positive lifestyle.

To subscribe to Cathy's column join the Afromerica email list to receive new information as it is updated. Or E-mail C Harris at: AskCathyHarris@comcast.net

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