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Introduction of Racial Profiling Legislation

Feature Story by Becky Dansky - 6/6/2001

Senator Jon Corzine

Washington DC-- At a press conference today, Representative John Conyers (D-MI), Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), Senator Jon Corzine (D-NJ), Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Representative Chris Shays (R-CT) and Representative David Wu (D-OR) along with members of the law enforcement and civil rights communities announced the introduction of the End Racial Profiling Act of 2001 (S. 989/H.R. 2074). This bipartisan legislation bans racial profiling and requires federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to take steps to eliminate the practice.

"President Bush and Attorney General Ashcroft have said racial profiling is wrong and should end in America. Our bill reflects this new political reality: Both Republicans and Democrats can agree that racial profiling is wrong and should end," Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI) said. "It is now time to move beyond studying whether racial profiling exists. We know it exists. Now, Congress should take the right steps to end it and protect the civil rights of all Americans to walk or travel free of discrimination."

Rep. John Conyers

The bill authorizes the Attorney General to provide incentive grants to assist agencies with complying with this act and conditions federal funds to state and local law enforcement agencies on their compliance with certain requirements:

  • adopting policies prohibiting racial profiling
  • implementing complaint procedures to respond to complaints of racial profiling effectively
  • implementing disciplinary procedures for officers who engage in the practice
  • collecting data on routine investigatory activities like traffic and pedestrian stops

"Let us be clear," said Senator Jon Corzine (D-NJ) " this bill is not about blaming law enforcement, and it is not designed to prevent law enforcement from doing its job. In fact, we believe that it will help our officers maintain the public trust they need to do their jobs."

Rep. Christopher Shays

"Since I first introduced this kind of legislation the pervasive nature of racial profiling has gone from anecdote and theory to established and documented fact," Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) said. He cited data from nine states that show blacks and Latinos are disproportionately pulled over for traffic stops at a much higher rate than whites.

"The practice of using race as a criterion in law enforcement flies in the face of progress we have made toward racial equality and must be stopped. The End Racial Profiling Act reaffirms our commitment to judge individuals by their actions, not by the color of their skin," said Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT).

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