The price of being brown in America

[BushOut06]

But on the same evening that President Bush was lauding democracy and freedom, there was one other person in attendance whose rights were infringed upon. The man, who did not want his identity revealed after the disturbing incident, was a personal guest of Florida Democrat Alcee Hastings. He is a prominent businessman from Broward County, Florida who works with the Department of Defense-and has a security clearance. After sitting in the gallery for the entire speech, he was surrounded by about ten law enforcement officers as he exited the chamber and whisked away to a room in the Capitol.

For close to an hour the man, who was born in India but is an American citizen, was questioned by the Police, who thought he resembled someone on a Secret Service photo watch list, according to Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer. Eventually, the police realized it was a case of mistaken identity and let him go. Gainer has assured Hastings that the Capitol Police, Secret Service and FBI will investigate why the man was detained for so long, and try to "sharpen our procedures." But the man was "very, very scared" by the incident, says Fred Turner, a spokesperson for Hastings. On Tuesday night, he told the congressman that the experience was "maybe just the price of being brown in America," Turner says.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1156497,00.html

[Gormy Cuss]

1. The price of not being stamped from the correct cookie cutter, it seems.

Later in this short article there's an anecdote from an incident during the Wilson administration, back when they understood freedom of speech.

[BlueJazz]

2. Gee..I don't know. We can't be to careful about "Those" kind of People.

Wink..Wink..

[Boojatta]

3. "thought he resembled someone on a Secret Service photo watch list,"

If the Police (why is it capital "P"?) think that everyone who has brown skin resembles someone on a Secret Service photo watch list, then perhaps it is time to replace those police with some new recruits who have better visual perception.

[LibDemAlways]

4. My husband frequently travels on

business with another guy from his department. Husband generally sails through TSA screening. Rarely hassled. Other guy pulled out of line every time, extensively searched and questioned. Only difference: Husband is generic white guy. Travelling companion has darker complexion and could be mistaken for Arab - though he's actually Jewish.

Racial profiling alive and well in USA.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. Me... I'd just get a chip once I was proven (safe) and be on my

merry way..... mebbe not.