From:  Raynard
 Support End Racial Profiling Act

NAACP-SUPPORTED END RACIAL PROFILING ACT INTRODUCED IN THE U.S.  SENATE

LEGISLATION WILL CREATE A NATIONAL PROHIBITION AGAINST RACIAL PROFILING BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

On Thursday October 6, 2011, Senator Ben Cardin (MD) introduced S.1670, the NAACP-supported “End Racial Profiling Act of 2011”.  The End Racial Profiling Act attacks the insidious practice of racial profiling by law enforcement on four levels:  first, it creates a federal prohibition against racial profiling; second, it mandates data collection so we can fully assess the true extent of the problem; thirdly, it provides funding for the retraining of law enforcement officials on how to discontinue and prevent the use of racial profiling; and fourth, it holds law enforcement agencies that continue to use racial profiling accountable.  We expect the House version to be introduced by Representative John Conyers in early November.  We need to get as many co-sponsors of both the House and Senate bills as possible.

Numerous studies over the past few years have provided us with evidence to support what we have known for decades:  law enforcement agents at all levels have consistently used race, ethnicity and national origin when choosing which individuals should be stopped and searched.  At the most basic level, it is difficult for our faith in the American judicial system not to be challenged when we cannot even drive down an interstate without being stopped merely because of the color of our skin. 

Furthermore, evidence clearly demonstrates that racial profiling is not an effective means of law enforcement and in many cases only adds to the distrust of local police.

We need S.1670, the End Racial Profiling Act to stop this insidious practice and to help begin to restore the confidence of communities of color throughout the United States in federal, state and local law enforcement.  It is supported by numerous civil rights and civil liberties organizations, as well religious associations and most police unions of color.

In light of the overwhelming evidence that racial profiling continues to be employed today, the NAACP is strongly urging Congress to pass this legislation, the End Racial Profiling Act, as soon as possible.

NAACP-Supported End Racial Profiling Act Introduced in the U.S.  Senate
THE ACTION WE NEED YOU TO TAKE:

Contact your U.S.  Senators and Member of the House of Representatives and ask them to co-sponsor S.  1670 THE “END RACIAL PROFILING ACT” and to serve as an original co- sponsor of the bill when it is introduced by Congressman Conyers in the House of Representatives. 

To contact your Senators and Representative you should: 

Make a Phone Call:

Call your Senators and your Representative in Washington by dialing the Capitol Switchboard and asking to be transferred to your Senators’/Congressman’s offices.  The switchboard phone number is (202) 224-3121 (see message section, below). 

Write a Letter If you choose to write letters to your Senators, send them to: 

The Honorable (name of Senator)
U.S.  Senate Washington, D.C.  20510

If you choose to write a letter to your Representative, send it to:

The Honorable (name of Representative)
U.S.  House of Representatives Washington, D.C.  20515 ?  Send a Fax If you would like to send a fax, call your Senators’ or Representative’s office (through the Capitol switchboard) and ask for their fax numbers (you can use either the attached sample letter or the message box, below).

 Send an E-Mail

To send an e-mail to your Senators, simply go to www.senate.gov, click on Senators, then click on Contacting Senators (by name or by state).  This selection will also help you to identify who your two senators are.
To send an e-mail to your Representative, go to www.house.gov, and click on “write your representative.” This will help you identify who your congressman is and how to contact him/her.  Unfortunately, not all Members of Congress have e-mail addresses.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO CONTACT BOTH OF YOUR SENATORS!

THE MESSAGE:

* We need this important legislation which takes concrete steps to put an end to the insidious practice of racial profiling by law enforcement at all levels.

* Racial profiling is prevalent at all levels of law enforcement today; one study has shown that approximately 72% of all routine traffic stops on an interstate in the Northeast occur with African American drivers despite the fact that African Americans make up only about 17% of the driving population.

* It is difficult for our faith in the American judicial system not to be challenged when we cannot drive down an interstate, walk down the street, or even enter into our own homes without being stopped merely because of the color of our skin.

*The “End Racial Profiling Act” not only prohibits racial profiling and collects data to fully assess the extent of the problem but provides training and other incentives for states and local governments to actively pursue policies to eliminate it and the legislation punishes those in law enforcement who continue to use it. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS IMPORTANT MATTER!!!

If you have any questions, call Hilary Shelton at the Washington Bureau at (202) 463-2940.
Hilary O.  Shelton, Director, NAACP Washington Bureau