If you have ever been pulled over for no other reason than simply “driving while Black,” then you have been the victim of racial profiling. Anytime someone is targeted based on their ethnicity alone, they have fallen victim to racial discrimination.
Devastatingly, many people who have suffered racial profiling have endured police brutality. Police officers have used unwarranted uses of force against individuals and groups, resulting in horrific injuries and the deaths of thousands.
If you or a loved one have been a victim due to racial profiling, you need attorneys. We provide legal representation you can trust.
Table of Contents
What is Racial Profiling?
Racial profiling is defined as the “invidious use of race or ethnicity as a criterion in conducting stops, searches, inspections, and other law enforcement activities.” This is often due to the assumption that people of a certain race or nationality are more likely to commit crimes.
Racial profiling, at its core, undermines our democracy. When a police officer or other public official suspects someone of wrongdoing based on the color of their skin, it creates an underlying tone of distrust.
Black people are not the only victims of racial profiling. Since the World Trade Center attacks of 2001, Arabs, Muslims, and South Asians are far more likely to be detained for minor immigration issues.
Examples of Police Brutality
- Police dog bites: in 1997, the Los Angeles Police department dogs stopped almost 34,000 vehicles, training the dogs to target people of “black and brown” skin. Pitifully, only 2% of the vehicles stopped were in possession of narcotics.
- Fatal shootings: In 2018, Stephon Clark was standing in his grandmother’s backyard. Police officers shot and killed him, firing more than 20 times. They alleged that they thought he was holding a gun. Clark was only holding a cell phone.
- Manslaughter: In 2020, George Floyd was suffocated to death by a police officer after attempting to use a $20 counterfeited bill. The officer handcuffed Floyd on the ground and laid his knee on his neck. Floyd kept saying he couldn’t breathe, but the officer ignored him. Floyd was deprived of oxygen and died.
Key Statistics
In California, police brutality has become clear through the following evidence:
- 195 people die each year from interactions with law enforcement;
- 250 people are fatally shot by law enforcement;
- Black Californians are three times more likely to be seriously injured, shot, or killed by law enforcement; and
- Accounting for 78,000 law enforcement officers, over 80% are arrested annually, with assault being the top charge.
How Can an El Paso Lawyer Help?
As one of the top firms in California handling police brutality cases, we have the legal knowledge to know what actions by law enforcement violate your civil liberties.
Any excessive force by a police officer must be punished. We have the experience in the courtroom to bring the officer to justice.
El Paso Lawyers Offering Aggressive Representation
If you or someone you love has been injured by racial profiling, our lawyers are only a call or click away. Whether you were injured or lost a family member, we can help you seek legal relief. Contact us to schedule a free consultation.
Autor
Cesar Ornelas has been named as a life member of both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. The Million Dollar Advocates Forum is recognized as one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States and less than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members.