Young men are another profile that gets targeted as a “more likely to be criminal” profile, independent of race (though it could be worse for a young man who is also black). Also, minor violations like a non-working light on a car can be excuses to stop someone and look for something bigger.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
The epitome of false equivalence might be equating DWB with terrorism. Please no not derail the thread. 8 posts deleted.
That was my point, @ucbalumnus.
However, being subject to profiling as a young man or driving a car with a non-working light is not mutually exclusive to being subject to profiling as a black person.
One major difference was however stupid you may have thought the regulation was, your nephew technically did violate the law by NOT HAVING THE REGISTRATION STICKER ON HIS PLATE. And was cited for it. False equivalence.
In contrast, too many Black motorists…even those who were found to have to have no violations whatsover like my older college classmate who was a double-degree chem/viola student end up not only getting frequently pulled over, but subjected to humiliatingly insulting treatment such as the LEOs openly telling him they thought he was a drug dealer because they can’t conceive of the possibility he may actually have well-to-do parents who could afford to buy him a car or that he’s well-dressed(required for conservatory recitals).
And a few even end up shot while in the act of complying with police instructions or even murdered by a cop who then planted a gun to imply the shooting was legitimate self-defense in the line of duty:
What’s more interesting is that if there was no video of the actual incident clearly showing the LEOs involved were clearly violating their oath to “protect and serve” the public by upholding the public trust and using powers assigned to them responsibly, many who are part of/inclined to be sympathetic to the prevailing establishment…including some commenters on this very thread are likely to argue much more vociferously to give the LEOs the benefit of the doubt and that the Black shooting/murder victims "must have done something wrong " to prompt the LEO shooting.
That’s really not the issue, and it’s getting off topic again. Doesn’t explain the kid getting pulled over and getting charged with a DUI for being on prescription ADHD medication. He was doing nothing wrong just happened to be late at night because he has finished a gig as a musician.
It is possible to get a DUI/DWI when using a prescription drug. Whether being on ADHD drugs at typical prescription doses actually does impair driving ability is another question entirely.
^ ^
My posting is actually much more relevant than yours because the OP is about a cop making belittling the fears of a motorist by saying “Cops only kill Black people”. A remark which is significant precisely because LEOs in this country have had a long history of racial profiling, mistreating, and even condoning shootings and murders of Black people*.
- Ranging from modern day murders and shootings like the report of one I linked above to the condoning/active participation of many LEOs in anti-Black riots and lynching...especially in the deep south. Not too surprising when there's plenty of publicly documentation that the KKK and other racist pro-segregation groups had many members who were LEO members.
A teenager or young adult who has attention problems and is not a very seasoned driver should be on their medication. No questions about it.
And additionally @ucbalumnus I don’t know what medication he was on, but several of them are long acting meds that if you take them in the morning they are still in your system at night. To expect someone who has problems with attention to drive a car being tired and probably inattentive as well as Young is just an accident waiting to happen over and above just the fact that they are young drivers.
^ ^
Which has absolutely no bearing on the cop’s inappropriate at best remark about “Cops only killing Black people” or the fact the comment has significance precisely because LEOs have had a long history of profiling, mistreating, and yes…even shooting/killing Black people.
If anything, a reasonable person may conclude some are trying to divert attention from this very critical part of the topic and thus, minimizing that significance for some reason…
I was going to write that I had never been pulled over when I hadn’t done something wrong, but I realized it’s not quite true. I did have one run-in with the police.
When my son was a baby he was phobic about having his hair cut so I would cut it when he was asleep. It was easier with him sitting up and he tended to fall asleep in the car so one night I put him in the carseat and took him for a drive. I pulled into a parking lot, and with my minivan running I was clipping away in the back when there was a sharp rap on my window. I emerged to find a police officer who pointed out that I was in a running van in the parking lot of a closed pharmacy the same week a rash of pharmacy oxycontin break-ins was all over the news. We both laughed and I went on my merry way.
I think back and reflect on the many ways this episode was marked by privilege-not only white privilege but economic as well. If I were a young black person in a lower-income neighborhood it’s unlikely I would have felt safe sitting alone in an unlocked running car in an otherwise empty parking lot and it’s pretty darned certain I would not have felt comfortable emerging from that minivan clutching a pair of sharp shiny barber’s shears.
As a well-to-do white woman I didn’t worry I would be shot for the crime of cutting my kid’s hair.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
If the posters who have debating the last few pages on this thread want to continue PM’ing each other, feel free. However, all of you know my stance: College Confidential is not a debate society and nobody’s opinion will be changed by restating your position. Move on from the debate please.
Maybe folks are biased by their own first hand experiences and those of close friends/family. Seems normal. Many if us are hesitant to believe experiences that differ from our own. I know I am and it is why, as a white person, I do think there are biases. I’ve never been pulled over without cause. I have immediate family members who are POC. I do see the difference in how they are treated and pulled over, stopped, or questions for little to no concrete stated reason. Witnessing my own treatment as well as first hand observations of these family members, within the same communities in which we have lived in different parts of the country (some worse, some better, but none equal), the contrast is apparent and blatant. It has happened enough over the years to not be coincidental.
@doschicos you get it, I just wish others did.
More trouble from Cobb Co
http://www.ajc.com/news/crime–law/racial-graffiti-found-cobb-high-school/WmLVpPkVxk2cpdXw9hHaSL/
"Racial, profane and threatening graffiti was found Friday at Pebblebrook High School in Cobb County, a school district spokesman said.
“Extensive vandalism” was found at the Mableton school, John Stafford said in an emailed statement to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution…"
This summer my daughter had a white co worker tell her she is not Chicana. Turns out the woman did not know what Chicana is but felt confident telling my daughter she is not it.
I have never had anyone tell me my ethnic identity is wrong but I am amazed at how many times my kids get hassled about it.
I have not lived it but believe it happens to other people. This is applicable to all facets of life.
Have you ever been asked where your horns are? I have. That’s fun. Not.
Actually, he retired instead. After 27 years.
“Sarcasm” carrying a gun with the authority to use deadly force makes this an issue. He misused his authority and brings shame on his profession. As others have said, the fact that he knew all of this was being recorded and felt perfectly fine saying those words speaks volumes. Every time one of these #%%* abuses their authority they put my relatives who work in law enforcement in jeopardy thereby undermining community relations.
It may have been a face saving retirement.