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Posted: 12:20 AM Feb 12, 2010
Community Gathers for Forum on Racial Profiling
If you're black, the ACLU says you're more likely to be pulled over by the police.
Reporter: Tim Irr Email Address: tim.irr@wsaz.com |
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- If you're black, the ACLU says you're more likely to be pulled over by the police.
Thursday night, racial profiling was the subject of a community forum in Huntington.
The local NAACP chapter and Black Pastor's Ministerial Alliance called for the meeting in response to what they call a recent increase in the number of complaints from the African-American Community.
Thursday night, they didn't want confrontation -- just a chance to talk about issues and look for positive solutions.
When asked if he thought racial profiling was a problem in the Huntington area, Police Chief Skip Holbrook said no.
That is pretty much cutting to the chase. Chief Holbrook is not trying to avoid the issue of racial profiling. He offered both of his email addresses to the audience at a community forum on the issue -- and said punishment is an option if one of his officers would be found guilty of profiling.
"Most importantly with internal review is correcting behavior," Chief Holbrook said. "That's our objective."
Back to the original question of racial profiling being a problem, it may be a matter of perspective. The local director of the ACLU says a recent study by the state shows black people are 1.5 times more likely to be stopped by officers.
"Some people just don't get it and they don't understand that event though what's going on here, the repeating stereotypes have been taught for decades," Frank Crabtree of the W.Va. ACLU said. "It's time to get over it."
One way to at least help get over it may be exactly what was held Thursday -- a community forum.
"Having forums and things of this nature are very important," Nichole Miller of Huntington said. "It allows community leaders and average people to come out and be informed about what's going on in the community."
There's a bill currently up for debate in the West Virginia Legislature that would require racial profile training for officers. That bill is sponsored by Cabell County Senator Evan Jenkins who was in attendance at Thursday's forum.
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