A civil liberties group filed a federal lawsuit
Thursday challenging the use of "stop and frisk" searches by
Philadelphia police, alleging that the policy is violating the rights
of blacks and Latinos who have done nothing wrong.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania filed the lawsuit
on behalf of eight men – including a state lawmaker – it says were
subjected to illegal searches since the city started using "stop and
frisk." The searches have been a controversial element of Mayor
Michael Nutter’s first term.
In the lawsuit, the ACLU cites city data showing that 253,333
pedestrians were stopped last year, compared with 102,319 in 2005.
More than 70 percent of the people stopped last year were black and only 8.4 percent of all stops led to an arrest, the ACLU said.
The lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, seeks unspecified
damages and a court injunction. It also alleges that police
Commissioner Charles Ramsey has failed to train and discipline
officers.
Thursday challenging the use of "stop and frisk" searches by
Philadelphia police, alleging that the policy is violating the rights
of blacks and Latinos who have done nothing wrong.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania filed the lawsuit
on behalf of eight men – including a state lawmaker – it says were
subjected to illegal searches since the city started using "stop and
frisk." The searches have been a controversial element of Mayor
Michael Nutter’s first term.
In the lawsuit, the ACLU cites city data showing that 253,333
pedestrians were stopped last year, compared with 102,319 in 2005.
More than 70 percent of the people stopped last year were black and only 8.4 percent of all stops led to an arrest, the ACLU said.
The lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, seeks unspecified
damages and a court injunction. It also alleges that police
Commissioner Charles Ramsey has failed to train and discipline
officers.
Using "stop and frisk" to reduce crime can be legal, but officers must have a reason for suspicion, said Mary Catherine Roper, an attorney for the ACLU of Pennsylvania.
"Our belief is that people are being stopped because of their race and not because of any individual activity that should raise any suspicion by police," said Roper, adding that stops were made by both black and white officers.
The use of stop-and-frisk searches has been a focal point of Nutter’s campaign to slow violent crime, which is down since he took office in 2008.
The police department and Nutter’s office did not immediately comment on the lawsuit when contacted by the Associated Press.
In New York, civil rights advocates have also challenged the use of
stop and frisk; a lawsuit filed against the New York Police Department by the Center for Constitutional Rights is pending.
Darius Charney, a staff attorney for the group, said 85 percent of the people stopped in New York over the past six years have been black or Latino.
Of those 575,000 pedestrian stops, about 6 percent have ended in an arrest and 1.5 percent have resulted in the recovery of a weapon, said Charney, who said it was an example of "over-aggressive policing."
Officers "target communities of color. They really behave as if they
are occupying forces in a community," Charney said. "New York is by no means the only place where this is a problem."
In Philadelphia, the lawsuit filed Wednesday tells the stories of
state Rep. Jewell Williams, a 52-year-old Philadelphia Democrat, and seven others who said they were stopped without reason by Philadelphia police. In March 2009, Williams said he was handcuffed and pushed into a police vehicle after asking questions during a traffic stop involving two other men. Ramsey later apologized to Williams.
Another plaintiff, Mahari Bailey, a 27-year-old attorney, said he was stopped on four occasions over 18 months; the only charge against him, driving with tinted windows, was thrown out in traffic court, the lawsuit said.
- Associated Press
"Our belief is that people are being stopped because of their race and not because of any individual activity that should raise any suspicion by police," said Roper, adding that stops were made by both black and white officers.
The use of stop-and-frisk searches has been a focal point of Nutter’s campaign to slow violent crime, which is down since he took office in 2008.
The police department and Nutter’s office did not immediately comment on the lawsuit when contacted by the Associated Press.
In New York, civil rights advocates have also challenged the use of
stop and frisk; a lawsuit filed against the New York Police Department by the Center for Constitutional Rights is pending.
Darius Charney, a staff attorney for the group, said 85 percent of the people stopped in New York over the past six years have been black or Latino.
Of those 575,000 pedestrian stops, about 6 percent have ended in an arrest and 1.5 percent have resulted in the recovery of a weapon, said Charney, who said it was an example of "over-aggressive policing."
Officers "target communities of color. They really behave as if they
are occupying forces in a community," Charney said. "New York is by no means the only place where this is a problem."
In Philadelphia, the lawsuit filed Wednesday tells the stories of
state Rep. Jewell Williams, a 52-year-old Philadelphia Democrat, and seven others who said they were stopped without reason by Philadelphia police. In March 2009, Williams said he was handcuffed and pushed into a police vehicle after asking questions during a traffic stop involving two other men. Ramsey later apologized to Williams.
Another plaintiff, Mahari Bailey, a 27-year-old attorney, said he was stopped on four occasions over 18 months; the only charge against him, driving with tinted windows, was thrown out in traffic court, the lawsuit said.
- Associated Press
Rogue
Sturgis Freedom Fighters
Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005
thats 34,500 busted fucks and about 1000 guns outta the hands of POS fuckers, thats all i have to say about that.............
ReplyDelete