This city might make it illegal to call police on black people for 'participating in their lives'

[GeorgeGist]

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan – Grand Rapids could soon have an ordinance that would make it a criminal misdemeanor to racially profile people of color for “participating in their lives.”

The “bias crime reporting prohibition” is one of a handful of adjustments that would be made to the city code as part of the proposed human rights ordinance. Other components include expanded protected class definitions, identifying four primary potential areas of discrimination, and an outline of the referral and compliance process.

https://www.nola.com/politics/2019/04/this-city-might-make-it-illegal-to-call-police-on-black-people-for-participating-in-their-lives.html

[tblue37]

1. K&R for visibility. nt

[R. P. McMurphy]

2. K&R. nt

[artislife]

3. This should start trending in all cities and towns

I am disgusted by the assholes who do call the cops on Black people and other POCs.

[pazzyanne]

4. I surely hope that this trend goes viral!

You are right in that the behavior of these people calling the police on people having a picnic, working in their own yard, etc. is deplorable and needs to stop! The police have better things to do than to listen to mentally ill people displaying their issues in public settings. Same goes for those people who verbally attack others who are simply in stores shopping. People with this type of insanity need to get help ASAP.

[mwooldri]

5. What about the crime of "wasting police time"?

Or is that a law that doesn't exist in many places?

It certainly should be made unlawful for someone to report to the police that someone is doing a perfectly legal activity (e.g. taking a walk, having a barbeque, shopping, etc). Sure, it would be good to have some law that basically does say "one can't call the police to say that someone is taking a walk and they're black... and..." etc. I feel that a "wasting police time" ordinance would get more bipartisan support and achieve the same objective.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasting_police_time

[dlk]

6. A Long Overdue Regulation

[ancianita]

7. Good for them. Right in the heart of DeVos stomping grounds.

[sarge43]

8. About time.

Malicious intent to cause harm. Misuse of government agencies.

[lunatica]

9. It's a start

[Amimnoch]

10. This should go federal. -nt.