U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) testified before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights today calling for an end to the use of racial profiling by law enforcement in America. He discussed the need to pass his legislation, S. 1670, the End Racial Profiling Act:
“Racial profiling is un-American. It is against our values, it wastes valuable resources, and it should have no place in modern law enforcement. It’s time that we move forward in guaranteeing to every American in this country equal justice under the law,” Senator Cardin testified. “The vast majority of our law enforcement officials who put their lives on the line every day handle their jobs with professionalism, diligence, and fidelity to the rule of law. However, Congress and the Justice Department can and should still take steps to prohibit racial profiling and finally root out its use.
“African Americans continue to face racial profiling on the streets and sidewalks of American cities. Since 9-11, Arab-Americans, American Muslims, and South-Asian Americans have faced national origin and religious profiling. And a recent spate of federal, state, and local measures has subjected Hispanic Americans to an increase in racial profiling under the guise of combating illegal immigration,” said Senator Durbin, who chaired today’s hearing. “Racial profiling undermines the rule of law and strikes at the core of our nation’s commitment to equal protection for all.”
Introduced in October 2011, the End Racial Profiling Act is designed to enforce the constitutional right to equal protection of the laws by eliminating racial profiling through changing the policies and procedures underlying the practice. Senator Cardin is proud to lead the current fight for passage of this legislation, that is cosponsored by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL, who chaired today’s hearing, Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Kerry (D-MA), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Carl Levin (D-MI), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Mark Udall (D-CO), and Chris Coons (D-DE).
“I believe all Americans are entitled to be treated with dignity and respect,” Senator Mikulski said. “We need to make sure that our citizens are protected from discriminatory acts. Racial profiling has no place in law enforcement and cannot be accepted in our communities. I am proud to stand up with my colleagues to support the End Racial Profiling Act and end this repugnant practice.”
Following the hearing, Senator Cardin kicked off a press conference with leaders of the Rights Working Group, NAACP and ACLU to further discuss the need to end the practice of racial profiling by law enforcement. They were joined by victims of racial profiling who shared their personal stories. Baltimore’s Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, a leading youth activist and advisor to the Trayvon Martin family, echoed the call to end racial profiling by law enforcement in America: