|
Petition to the General Conference, 2004, In accordance with the instructions for preparation of petitions, PAGE NUMBER: Page 1 of 4 SUGGESTED TITLE/SUBJECT MATTER: Racial Profiling PETITION CONCERNS: New Resolution FINANACIAL IMPLICATIONS: None PETITION TEXT: Add a new resolution to The Book of Resolutions as follows: According to a study prepared by the Institute on Race and Poverty of the University of Minnesota Law School, and entitled “Components of Racial Profiling Legislation,” racial profiling is one of the most pressing civil rights of our time. Racial profiling negatively affects all persons of color of all generations and income levels. It undermines the legitimacy of the criminal justice system, and hinders effective policing in the communities that need it the most. A Resource Guide on Racial Profiling Data Collection Systems, published by the U. S. Department of Justice defines racial profiling as “any police-initiated action that relies on the race, ethnicity or national origin rather than behavior of an individual or information that leads the police to a particular individual who has been identified as being, of having been, engaged in criminal activity.”(1) Racial profiling is present at traffic stops by police officers when the use of race or ethnicity is the decisive factor that makes the officer stop, question, search or arrest someone. Racial profiling has been monitored in a number of jurisdictions, and in nearly all of these jurisdictions, it was found to be a significant problem. For example, a 1996 study in Maryland found that while African Americans accounted for only 16.9% of the drivers on I-95, they constituted 72.9% of the drivers stopped and searched by the Maryland police. (2) Racial profiling affects law-abiding citizens as well as offenders. Innocent persons of colors are stopped, questioned, and searched for reasons that would not lead to stops of white drivers. People of color report stops based on minor equipment violations such as items hanging from rearview mirrors, and even stops followed by inquiries such as, “whose car is this you’re driving?” or “what are you doing in this neighborhood?” Racial profiling not only subordinates the civil rights of entire communities to the goals of criminal justice, but it is an ineffective crime prevention tool that ultimately victimizes the very people that it is supposed to protect- the non-criminal public. A 1999 Gallup poll found nationally 42% of African Americans believe that they have been stopped by police because of their race, 77% of African Americans believe racial profiling is widespread, and 87% disapprove of the practice. Similar answers have been received among persons from other races and ethnic background. The same poll showed that although only 6% of whites believed they had been stopped by police because of their race or ethnic background, 56% of white believe racial profiling was widespread, and 80% disapproved of racial profiling. (3) The widespread perception among people of color that they are unfairly targeted by the police because of their race or ethnic background has led to a lack of trust in the police. This mistrust harms both the police and communities of color, by impeding effective police work precisely within the communities of color which are the ones that need it the most. It is well known that people of color are more likely than whites to be victims of crime. However, mistrust of police hinders the cooperation that is needed between the communities and the police officers. Whereas racial profiling is an abhorrent manifestation of racism, and it is a painful and tragic reality in our lives, we call The United Methodist Church to: - Denounce through an official communication of the Council of Bishop, to the President of the United States of America, Congress and the Attorney General, racial profiling as unjust and evil reality that needs to be corrected. - Enable the church body: annual conferences, districts and local churches, and under the leadership of the General Board of Church and Society and the General Commission on Religion and Race, to be proactive in educating the constituency about this issue and in establishing networks of cooperation with the criminal justice and the law enforcement systems. 1) Deborah Ramírez, Jack McDevitt, and Amy Farrel. “A Resource on Racial Profiling Data Collection Systems: Promising Practices and Lessons Learned.”3 (2000) 2) David A. Harris. “Driving While Black”. Racial Profiling on Our Nation’s Highways, and American Civil Liberties Union Special Report 21-22 (1999) 3) The Gallup Poll, September 21-November 116, 1999. RATIONALE: To actively respond to the issue of racial profiling in our society. DATE: November 24, 2003 SUBMITTED BY: Kathryn J. Johnson, on behalf of PETITIONER IDENTIFICATION: Methodist Federation for Social Action TELEPHONE: 202-546-8806 |
|
Back to General Conference Page |