Congressman says Chicago police pulled him over for 'driving while black'

[kurth]

Congressman says police stopped his vehicle due to racial profiling
From Ismael Estrada

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- U.S. Rep. Danny Davis of Illinois believes he was a victim of racial profiling this week, his spokeswoman said.

Two white police officers pulled over the Democratic congressman early Monday morning, according to spokeswoman Tumia Romero. "He thinks he was pulled over because of his race," Romero said Thursday. "He was not speeding, had a valid driver's license, wasn't swerving, but was pulled over anyway."

She said Davis had been working on his radio show until around midnight Sunday. He was driving home three of his guests -- all African-Americans -- when Chicago police officers pulled his vehicle over around 1 a.m. Monday. The only reason the congressman can see for being stopped was that there were "four black men in the car," Romero said.

Davis said he was issued a $75 ticket for "driving left of center." He is scheduled to appear in traffic court December 28. Dana Starks, Chicago police interim superintendent, confirmed that Davis had been issued a citation for a traffic violation...

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/23/racial.profiling/

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. DWB is a huge issue here where I live too

We absolutely MUST keep speaking out against it.

[MADem]

2. This should be easy to resolve--let's go to the TAPE!

If he were 'driving left of center' we'll be able to see that.

[zabet]

3. We have the opposite phenomenom here...

in a section of our town that is
99% African American, there is 2
or 3 crack houses operating at any
given time. If a city cop sees a
white person driving through there,
they automatically assume the only
reason they are in that neighborhood
is to buy crack. I have been stopped
and questioned because I shortcut through
there after dark going into town (we live
in the country). The cop point blank told
me he stopped me beause I was white, driving
in a black neighborhood.

[Evoman]

4. Is anyone surprised? Our countries (I include Canada) are sick, and racism is the core of it.

At least back in the day, you knew who was racist and who wasn't. Now, it's just as bad but not as overt.

I'd say 90% of people are racist, and 90% of people would categorize THEMSELVES as non-racist. I'm a latino who looks white..other minorties would be shocked if they heard the racism I'm privy too.