January 6, 2000: ACLU-TN Launches Campaign Against Racial Profiling

For Immediate Release
January 6, 2000

For more Information, contact
Hedy Weinberg 615-320-7142

(Nashville) - ACLU of Tennessee today announces the launching of a campaign to fight racial profiling, which has also come to be known derisively as the offense of DWBB, "driving while black or brown." Racial profiling refers to the law enforcement practice of disproportionately stopping and searching racial minorities for no reason except skin color. The ACLU-TN campaign is modeled after the National ACLU Campaign Against Racial Profiling and is fueled by the emerging national consensus that racial profiling is widespread.

The ACLU-TN campaign will focus its campaign on increasing awareness of the problem across the state; identifying the extent and prevalence of the problem in Tennessee; and seeking solutions to eradicate racial profiling through training, community outreach and organizing, and if necessary, litigation.

Facets of the campaign will include: urging voluntary data collection by highway patrol, police chiefs, and county sheriffs; introducing and lobbying for legislation that will mandate the collection of data by all law enforcement (agreed on compromise bill that passed); creating a statewide racial justice task force; and organizing town meetings and public education forums. We have held town meetings in Memphis, Knoxville and Oak Ridge and are planning ones in Chattanooga and Nashville.

According to ACLU-TN Executive Director Hedy Weinberg, "racial profiling undermines the basic notion of fairness and equality. Racial profiling has created a crisis in confidence in law enforcement in communities of color. Our campaign will alert citizens of their rights and law enforcement of their responsibilities. We hope to empower people to speak out about their experiences and develop strategies for law enforcement training and accountability to abolish racial profiling in Tennessee."

Results of a recent Gallup Poll and reported incidents across the country reaffirm the need for an all out assault on racial profiling. Released in early December, the poll reveals that the majority of Americans, both Black and White - believe that racial profiling is both widespread and unfair. The poll indicates that 59 percent of the American public believes that racial profiling is widespread; and an overwhelming 81 percent disapproves of its use by police.

According to Weinberg, "this poll shows why the ACLU has launched its campaign and why there will be an all out assault on racial profiling in the coming year."

Last year ACLU's national office launched its campaign to eradicate racial profiling. Since then, they have released a major public policy report on the problem, created a national hotline for people who feel they have been targets of racial profiling, lobbied in support of anti-profiling legislation in Congress, and litigated several racial profiling cases around the country.