Weighing the Pros and Cons of Racial Profiling

Lesson Plan on Race in America

A Racial Profiling Story [1]

Four minority graduates of Ivy League colleges (Jason Rowley, 25, Sheldon Gilbert, 24, Lauren Sudeall, 23, and Marie Claire Lim, 23) had an unpleasant run-in with authorities while returning from work in Brooklyn late one night.   All four were in Rowley's car when another vehicle screeched to a halt in front of Rowley.   A man jumped out and pointed a gun at Rowley. “Fearing for his life and the lives of his passengers, Rowley ducked behind the steering wheel, put the car in reverse, and drove backwards to escape.”   But Rowley did not go anywhere because he was blocked in by another unmarked car.   Apparently, the man wielding the gun was a plainclothes officer and he nor the other officers had not identified themselves as police or showed any badges.

While stopped, Detective Robert Williamson allegedly smashed the driver's side window and pulled Rowley through it.   Rowley said that after he was handcuffed, he was punched, kicked, and struck with a hard object.   Two officers allegedly punched Gilbert as well.   Sergeant Andrew McInnis, a police spokesperson, said officers used “minimum force” in making the arrests, adding they ran a check on Rowley's license plate after seeing him run a red light.   The car was listed as stolen, and the police began to follow it.   (Rowley's car was stolen in November 1999 and he reported it to the police, who found and returned it to him.)   All four were taken to a police station house for questioning.   The charges were later dismissed. [2]   

[1] Important Note: A common misconception is that police officers are often the aggressors in racial profiling situations.   It is important to note that this story is but one example of racial profiling and is not representative of all situations.

[2] Modified from “Portraits in Racial Profiling: When Clothes Make the Suspect,” by Peter Noel, www.villagevoice.com/issues/0011/noel.php,   March 2000.